BIBLIO is the largest independent book marketplace in the world, with over 100 million books.

Skip to content

Charles Olson: The Allegory of a Poet's Life
Stock photo: cover may vary

Charles Olson: The Allegory of a Poet's Life Paperback - 2000

by Tom Clark

Add to wish list

Reader reviews for Charles Olson: The Allegory of a Poet's Life

From the publisher

An incandescent biography of the inventor of projective verse, this comprehensive portrait distinguishes the convivial, bluff public figure from the tormented inner man. A lapsed Catholic, Olson (1910-1970) turned to Sumerian myths, Mayan legends and Islamic mysticism for cosmic insights that would inform poems of cyclic sweep. Torn by contradictory feelings toward his proud, stern father--a Swedish immigrant postman in Worcester, Mass.--the poet found a father-figure in mentor Edward Dahlberg and later in Ezra Pound. Reclusive self-absorption sapped his two common law marriages; he harbored enormous guilt over his neglect of his two children and over second wife Betty Kaiser's death (in a car accident), which may have been self-inflicted during a severe depression. Clark, author of books on Kerouac, Celine and Ted Berrigan, reveals that Olson grappled with homosexual impulses, took hallucinogens and dominated those around him, seeking periodic release from inner demons in frenzied floods of images.

Details

  • Title Charles Olson: The Allegory of a Poet's Life
  • Author Tom Clark
  • Binding Paperback
  • Edition Second Edition
  • Pages 405
  • Volumes 1
  • Language ENG
  • Publisher North Atlantic Books, Berkeley
  • Publication date 2000-05-04
  • ISBN 9781556433429 / 1556433425
  • Weight 1.44 lbs (0.65 kg)
  • Dimensions 8.98 x 6.02 x 1.27 in (22.81 x 15.29 x 3.23 cm)
  • Category Biography / Autobiography
  • Library of Congress Catalogue Number 99086172
  • Dewey Decimal Code B

Media reviews

"Best known for his innovative poetic theory and the famous "Maximus" poems, Olson served as a mentor to an entire generation of poets, among them Robert Duncan and Robert Creeley. In this critical biography, Clark provides new insight into the conflicts and struggles of Olson's life and the influence they had on his work. Clark draws from his own acquaintance with Olson, the poet's journals and poetry, as well as correspondence with many who were close to him, to make sense of this man's life as a parable. This is an admirable biography, for Clark accomplishes the difficult task of combining the continuous story of Olson's life with an understandable account of his poetic development and explications of many poems. Recommended for academic libraries and public libraries with strong literature collections."
—Nancy R. Ives, SUNY at Geneseo

More Copies for Sale

Charles Olson: The Allegory of a Poet's Life
Stock photo: cover may vary

Charles Olson: The Allegory of a Poet's Life

by Tom Clark

  • Used
  • Very good
  • Paperback
Condition
Very good
Binding
Paperback
ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9781556433429 / 1556433425
Quantity available
1
Seller
Item price
A$9.36
A$8.64 Delivery to USA

Show details

Description:
North Atlantic Books, May 2000. Trade Paperback. Very Good/None. 9.0 X 6.0 X 1.3 inches; 432 pages
Add to wish list
Item price
A$9.36
A$8.64 Delivery to USA
Charles Olson: The Allegory of a Poet's Life
Stock photo: cover may vary

Charles Olson: The Allegory of a Poet's Life

by Tom Clark

  • Used
  • Paperback
Condition
New
Binding
Paperback
ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9781556433429 / 1556433425
Quantity available
1
Seller
Item price
A$14.38
Free Delivery to USA

Show details

Description:
North Atlantic Books, 2000. Paperback. Like New. Pages are clean and are not marred by notes or folds of any kind. ~ ThriftBooks: Read More, Spend Less.Dust jacket quality is not guaranteed.
Add to wish list
Item price
A$14.38
Free Delivery to USA
Charles Olson: The Allegory of a Poet's Life

Charles Olson: The Allegory of a Poet's Life

by Clark, Tom

  • Used
  • Good
  • Paperback
Condition
Good
Binding
Paperback
ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9781556433429 / 1556433425
Quantity available
1
Seller
Item price
A$14.38
Free Delivery to USA

Show details

Description:
North Atlantic Books, 2000. Paperback. Good. Pages can have notes/highlighting. Spine may show signs of wear. ~ ThriftBooks: Read More, Spend Less.Dust jacket quality is not guaranteed.
Add to wish list
Item price
A$14.38
Free Delivery to USA
Charles Olson: The Allegory of a Poet's Life

Charles Olson: The Allegory of a Poet's Life

by Clark, Tom

  • Used
  • Very good
  • Paperback
Condition
Very good
Binding
Paperback
ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9781556433429 / 1556433425
Quantity available
1
Seller
Item price
A$14.38
Free Delivery to USA

Show details

Description:
North Atlantic Books, 2000. Paperback. Very Good. May have limited writing in cover pages. Pages are unmarked. ~ ThriftBooks: Read More, Spend Less.Dust jacket quality is not guaranteed.
Add to wish list
Item price
A$14.38
Free Delivery to USA
No image available

Charles Olson; the Allegory of a poet's Life

by Clark, Tom

  • Used
Condition
Used
ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9781556433429 / 1556433425
Quantity available
1
Seller
Item price
A$17.99
A$10.08 Delivery to USA

Show details

Description:
Berkeley: North Atlantic Books, 2000. xx, 405p., stiff wrappers.
Add to wish list
Item price
A$17.99
A$10.08 Delivery to USA
Charles Olson: The Allegory of a Poet's Life
Stock photo: cover may vary

Charles Olson: The Allegory of a Poet's Life

by Clark, Tom

  • Used
  • Paperback
Condition
Used
Edition
Second Edition
Binding
Paperback
ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9781556433429 / 1556433425
Quantity available
1
Seller
Item price
A$19.78
Free Delivery to USA

Show details

Description:
Brand: North Atlantic Books, 2000-05-04. Second Edition. paperback. Used: Good. 5.80x1.20x8.90. Buy with confidence. Excellent Customer Service & Return policy.
Add to wish list
Item price
A$19.78
Free Delivery to USA
Tillie Olsen and a Feminist Spiritual Vision
Stock photo: cover may vary

Tillie Olsen and a Feminist Spiritual Vision

by Orr, Elaine Neil

  • Used
  • Hardback
Condition
New
Binding
Hardcover
ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9781556433429 / 1556433425
Quantity available
1
Seller
Item price
A$21.59
A$7.20 Delivery to USA

Show details

Description:
University Press of Mississippi, 1987. Hardcover. As new, still in publisher's shrinkwrap. 193pp.
Add to wish list
Item price
A$21.59
A$7.20 Delivery to USA
Charles Olson: The Allegory of a Poet's Life
Stock photo: cover may vary

Charles Olson: The Allegory of a Poet's Life

by Clark, Tom

  • Used
  • Paperback
Condition
New
Edition
First edition
Binding
Paperback
ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9781556433429 / 1556433425
Quantity available
1
Seller
Item price
A$21.59
A$7.20 Delivery to USA

Show details

Description:
Berkeley: Norton, 2000. First edition. Paperback. As new, clean, tight and bright condition, with bright and crisp dust jacket which is now in a clear protective mylar sleeve.. 405pp. illus.
Add to wish list
Item price
A$21.59
A$7.20 Delivery to USA
Charles Olson: The Allegory of a Poet's Life
Stock photo: cover may vary

Charles Olson: The Allegory of a Poet's Life

by Tom Clark

  • Used
  • Fine
Condition
Excellent
ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9781556433429 / 1556433425
Quantity available
1
Seller
Item price
A$28.33
A$10.06 Delivery to USA

Show details

Description:
Fine. Like New+ condition; some minor discoloration from long-term storage/shelving, otherwise SOLID copy with clean page and firm spine.
Add to wish list
Item price
A$28.33
A$10.06 Delivery to USA
Charles Olson: The Allegory of a Poet's Life
More photos

Charles Olson: The Allegory of a Poet's Life

by Tom Clark

  • Used
  • Paperback
Condition
New
Edition
FIRST THUS
Binding
Paperback
ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9781556433429 / 1556433425
Quantity available
1
Seller
Item price
A$28.79
A$5.74 Delivery to USA

Show details

Description:
North Atlantic Books, 2000. FIRST THUS. Paperback. Like New/No Jacket. First Edition Thus, First Printing. Not price-clipped. Published by North Atlantic Books, 2000. Octavo. Paperback. Book is like new with publisher mark on bottom page end. 100% positive feedback. 30 day money back guarantee. NEXT DAY SHIPPING! Excellent customer service. Please email with any questions. All books packed carefully and ship with free delivery confirmation/tracking. All books come with free bookmarks. Ships from Sag Harbor, New York.
Add to wish list
Item price
A$28.79
A$5.74 Delivery to USA