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Category: Poetry

Image of an ornate clock showing 2:05 with sculpted male figures sitting on each side of the clock face

A Paycheck, and a Gut-Check

Posted by: Jennifer Gavin

For poets, verse is their work. But for poet Philip Levine, work is the stuff of poetry. Levine — named the 18th Poet Laureate Consultant in Poetry for 2011-2012 today by the Librarian of Congress — has been known for decades as the bard of the “working stiffs,” the people who actively toil for their …

Image of an ornate clock showing 2:05 with sculpted male figures sitting on each side of the clock face

A Wall-to-Wall Weekend of Wow

Posted by: Jennifer Gavin

The lineup for the 2011 National Book Festival – going to two days this year for the first time – continues to grow, with information on scores of authors, video clips of authors and book-lovers, and a “countdown clock” among the features of the festival website now live. Always a family-friendly event, this year’s festival …

Image of an ornate clock showing 2:05 with sculpted male figures sitting on each side of the clock face

Your Authoritative Source for … Authors!

Posted by: Jennifer Gavin

The author list, to date, for the Library of Congress’ National Book Festival on Sept. 24 and 25 on the National Mall (that’s right – two days this year) is bursting with talent – and we’re not even done filling all the slots yet! Who’s coming? Nobel- and Pulitzer Prize-winner Toni Morrison; Pulitzer Prize-winners Siddhartha …

Image of an ornate clock showing 2:05 with sculpted male figures sitting on each side of the clock face

All That Jazz … and Humor, Opera, Dance Music …

Posted by: Jennifer Gavin

Today the Library of Congress, in conjunction with Sony Music Entertainment, launched a website – “the National Jukebox” – that streams 10,000 sound recordings from the historic Victor Records collection.  It’s a fun and fascinating ramble for anyone who loves American music and wants to dig down into the roots of jazz, opera, a vast …

Image of an ornate clock showing 2:05 with sculpted male figures sitting on each side of the clock face

New Laurels for the 16th Laureate

Posted by: Jennifer Gavin

Kay Ryan, the 16th Poet Laureate of the United States (2008-2010) and a person of wry wisdom, today won the Pulitzer Prize for poetry. Hear, hear! Specifically, the prize was for her book “The Best of It: New and Selected Poems” (Grove Press).  The Pulitzer people described the book this way: “a body of work …