Ezra Pound

Drawing on a series of new sources, this biography of Ezra Pound - the first to appear in more than a decade - outlines his contribution to modernism through a detailed account of his development, influence and continued significance. It pays special attention to his role in creating Imagism, Vorticism and the modern long poem, as well as his importance for Yeats, Joyce and Eliot. His roles as editor, translator and critic, plus his attempt to complete The Cantos, are also studied.

Born in Hailey, Idaho in 1855, Ezra Pound became one of the most controversial and influential literary figures of the 20th century. In this biography, Nadel (literature, U. of British Columbia) draws upon correspondence, essays, and radio broadcasts to explore Pound's radical politics and literary innovation. "The aggressiveness of his writing...is part of the energy of his ideas and eagerness to 'make it new' which shaped his life as well as his literature." Tracing the arc of his career, the author reveals Pound's pivotal role in such movements as Imagism, Vorticism, and Modernism, situating the poet- critic's creative output solidly in his socio-political circumstances, both in America and abroad. Annotation ©2004 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR

Ira Nadel is a Professor of English at the University of British Columbia.