Twentieth-Century American Poetry - selected by Conrad Aiken - Modern Library

Twentieth-Century American Poetry
selected by Conrad Aiken
published by Modern Library

hardcover in very good used condition, no markings to text

Twentieth-Century American Poetry is characterized by its remarkable diversity and innovation, reflecting the tumultuous and dynamic changes of the century. The early 1900s saw the emergence of Modernism, with poets like T.S. Eliot and Ezra Pound breaking traditional forms and experimenting with fragmented, imagistic language. The Harlem Renaissance in the 1920s brought forth voices like Langston Hughes and Claude McKay, celebrating African American culture and confronting racial injustices. The mid-century was marked by the confessional poetry of Sylvia Plath and Robert Lowell, who delved deeply into personal and psychological themes. The Beat Generation, with figures like Allen Ginsberg and Jack Kerouac, rebelled against mainstream values, embracing spontaneity and raw expression..