Robert Frost: The Work of Knowing

"Robert Frost: The Work of Knowing" by Richard Poirier does what I want: presents a solid, thorough critical study of Robert Frost's work without getting lost in praise. Robert Frost is too often tossed away as only a pastoral poet without a tremendous amount of substance. As the contrary is true, Poirier examines both the simple phrasings of Frost to his immense depth of discovery. If we see Robert Frost only by his most famous poems, like "The Road Not Taken," and "The Mending Wall," we are apt to miss the range of literary prowess wrought by him. He was amazingly literate, and by no means just some country bloke popping out interesting verse about life's choices and relationships. Selections of letters by Frost himself, arguing his position of a given poem, or his general perspective, as well as lengthy stanzas augment Poirier's thoughts. Poirier compares aspects of Frost to James Joyce, Edgar Allen Poe, Thomas Hardy, TS Eliot and many others, showing how the poet fits in to both contemporaries and the canon. In the letters, we see the erudite intellectual, the persona hidden from most readers of Frost. He reflects on his inadequacies and strengths. Poirier breaks down the brilliant schema of what appear to be the easiest rendering of lines, and, within them, reveals the elucid manipulation of words like "early" and "petal" (as in "The Oven Bird"). He also labors at length to illuminate Frost's concept of form. Other analyses include his philosophical views (noting, for example, Frost's support of marital love). The weakness of the book is not the content, but the index. It is deficient in that names authors and poets well-enough, but not subjects. Likewise, it reads nicely, but could use a stronger structure. It comes across at times rambling, as if written without an outline. For what I sought, however, none of this overtakes the value. I fully recommend "Robert Frost: The Work of Knowing" by Richard Poirier. Anthony Trendl editor, HungarianBookstore.com