The Essential Etheridge Knight (Pitt Poetry)

This book presents about a dozen new poems by a foremost American poet in the black oral tradition. The bulk of these poems appeared in Born of a Woman ( LJ 6/15/80), a superior volume with many more poems and a sensitive preface that illustrates the full range of Knight's stunning ability with the vernacular. Knight can move from pathos and a near-tragic vision of the destructiveness of imprisonment and prejudice to tenderness and a lusty, incisive wit. His new poems have less substance and are fewer than one would expect from someone with his talent, but the work as a whole bears testimony anew to his authentic "blues" voice, deep feeling, and concern for communication between the races.Frank Allen, Assoc. Dean, Continuing Education, Allentown Coll., Center Valley, Pa. Tate, James. Reckoner.Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc.