Reviews
"William Matthews was a ubiquitous, humane and regal presence in American poetry for thirty years, and the room is sparser since he left. His famous melancholy and droll wit, diversely represented here, were larger than life, and warmer. As a poet, Matthews practices a brilliant American version of Horatianism. Like those of Horace, Matthews' best poems are meditations so urbane and sincere, so fluently civilized, they do the impossible--restore the sullied reputation of rationality. His metaphors are superb, his knowledge dark and alive, his pitch perfect. He was and is the all around poet. He still has a lot of love to give." --Tony Hoagland, "William Matthews was a ubiquitous, humane and regal presence in American poetry for thirty years, and the room is sparser since he left. His famous melancholy and droll wit, diversely represented here, were larger than life, and warmer. As a poet, Matthews practices a brilliant American version of Horatianism. Like those of Horace, Matthews' best poems are meditations so urbane and sincere, so fluently civilized, they do the impossible--restore the sullied reputation of rationality. His metaphors are superb, his knowledge dark and alive, his pitch perfect. He was and is the all around poet. He still has a lot of love to give." --Tony Hoagland , "William Matthews was a ubiquitous, humane and regal presence in American poetry for thirty years, and the room is sparser since he left. His famous melancholy and droll wit, diversely represented here, were larger than life, and warmer. As a poet, Matthews practices a brilliant American version of Horatianism. Like those of Horace, Matthews' best poems are meditations so urbane and sincere, so fluently civilized, they do the impossible -restore the sullied reputation of rationality. His metaphors are superb, his knowledge dark and alive, his pitch perfect. He was and is the all around poet. He still has a lot of love to give. " -Tony Hoagland , "William Matthews was a ubiquitous, humane and regal presence in American poetry for thirty years, and the room is sparser since he left. His famous melancholy and droll wit, diversely represented here, were larger than life, and warmer. As a poet, Matthews practices a brilliant American version of Horatianism. Like those of Horace, Matthews' best poems are meditations so urbane and sincere, so fluently civilized, they do the impossible -restore the sullied reputation of rationality. His metaphors are superb, his knowledge dark and alive, his pitch perfect. He was and is the all around poet. He still has a lot of love to give. " -Tony Hoagland , "William Matthews was a ubiquitous, humane and regal presence in American poetry for thirty years, and the room is sparser since he left. His famous melancholy and droll wit, diversely represented here, were larger than life, and warmer. As a poet, Matthews practices a brilliant American version of Horatianism. Like those of Horace, Matthews' best poems are meditations so urbane and sincere, so fluently civilized, they do the impossible-restore the sullied reputation of rationality. His metaphors are superb, his knowledge dark and alive, his pitch perfect. He was and is the all around poet. He still has a lot of love to give." -Tony Hoagland , "William Matthews was a ubiquitous, humane and regal presence in American poetry for thirty years, and the room is sparser since he left. His famous melancholy and droll wit, diversely represented here, were larger than life, and warmer. As a poet, Matthews practices a brilliant American version of Horatianism. Like those of Horace, Matthews' best poems are meditations so urbane and sincere, so fluently civilized, they do the impossible--restore the sullied reputation of rationality. His metaphors are superb, his knowledge dark and alive, his pitch perfect. He was and is the all around poet. He still has a lot of love to give." --Tony Hoagland, “William Matthews was a ubiquitous, humane and regal presence in American poetry for thirty years, and the room is sparser since he left. His famous melancholy and droll wit, diversely represented here, were larger than life, and warmer. As a poet, Matthews practices a brilliant American version of Horatianism. Like those of Horace, Matthews' best poems are meditations so urbane and sincere, so fluently civilized, they do the impossible -restore the sullied reputation of rationality. His metaphors are superb, his knowledge dark and alive, his pitch perfect. He was and is the all around poet. He still has a lot of love to give. � -Tony Hoagland
