Edward Mendelson

"One of contemporary America's leading critics and scholars offers a provocative reassessment of the lives and work of eight influential twentieth- century American writers: Lionel Trilling Dwight Macdonald W.H. Auden William Maxwell Saul Bellow Alfred Kazin Norman Mailer Frank O'Hara Drawing on newly published letters and diaries, Edward Mendelson explores the responses of these writers, very public figures all, to major historical events--among...

More than one hundred separate essays, reviews, introductions, and lecures, as well as a questionnaire (complete with his own answers) about the reader's fantasy version of Eden. Also are included previously unpublished and little known works. The introduction by Edward Mendelson places the essays in biographical and historical context, and the extensive textual notes explain obscure contemporary references and provide an often-amusing history of...

This edition presents the original versions of 30 poems, which Auden revised to conform to his evolving political and literary attitudes later in his career.