US & Canadian Literary Biography

Robert Frost himself

Name: Robert Frost himself
Author: Stanley Burnshaw
ISBN: 9780807612347

by Stanley Burnshaw

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Overview

Through memoir, biography, literary history and critical study, Burnshaw presents new information about Frost that defuses the "monster myth" created by Frost's official biographer.

"The book has an important purpose: to rescue Frost from the negative image that has lingered like a dark storm cloud since Lawrence Thompson's three-volume biography. Frost told Burnshaw, his long-time friend and sometimes editor, 'I'm counting on you to protect me from Larry,' and Burnshaw's mix of biography and criticism here fulfills Frost's hope. The final two chapters in particular argue for the humane and generous Frost, in contrast to the maniacal monster of Thompson's account, and for the poet genius whose work makes him one of the giants of modern poetry. Important as a turn in scholarly debate, this book is also sure to engage a variety of general readers."—Library Journal

Through memoir, biography, literary history and critical study, Burnshaw presents new information about Frost that defuses the "monster myth" created by Frost's official biographer.

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Editorials

Publishers Weekly - Publisher's Weekly

Burnshaw provides a view of the complex, elusive Frost, as poet and person, that is at once ``searching and balanced,'' wrote PW. ``The unfortunately influential `monster-myth' created by the poet's `official' biographer, Lawrence Thompson, stands here convincingly corrected.'' Illustrated. (Sept.)

Library Journal

The first three chapters of this book are clotted with snippets of anecdote and reminiscence that never coalesce into a coherent narrative. But the book has an important purpose: to rescue Frost from the negative image that has lingered like a dark storm cloud since Lawrence Thompson's three-volume biography. Frost told Burnshaw, his long-time friend and sometimes editor, ``I'm counting on you to protect me from Larry,'' and Burnshaw's mix of biography and criticism here fulfills Frost's hope. The final two chapters in particular argue for the humane and generous Frost, in contrast to the maniacal monster of Thompson's account, and for the poet genius whose work makes him one of the giants of modern poetry. Important as a turn in scholarly debate, this book is also sure to engage a variety of general readers. Leland Krauth, English Dept, Univ. of Colorado, Boulder