California poet stunned by Pulitzer Prize

[laststeamtrain]

Source: AP/San Jose Mercury

California poet stunned by Pulitzer Prize
The Associated Press
Posted: 04/12/2010 03:33:18 PM PDT
Updated: 04/12/2010 04:51:10 PM PDT

SAN DIEGO—A California poet won a 2010 Pulitzer Prize on Monday for a book of poetry that she feared she would never finish after she was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer.

<snip>

The first half of the book, published by Wesleyan University Press, focuses on the dark forces gripping the United States as it fought the war against Iraq, she said. The second half looks at the dark forces taking hold of her own life after Armantrout was diagnosed in 2006 with adrenal cortical cancer.

<snip>

The Pulitzer committee called the book striking for its wit and linguistic inventiveness, offering poems that are "often little thought-bombs detonating in the mind long after the first reading."

"I love that," she said, laughing. "That's very flattering and exactly what I wanted it to be—a little thought-bomb. It sounds dangerous."

Read more: http://www.mercurynews.com/news/ci_14869644?nclick_check=1

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Pulitzer citation:

For a distinguished volume of original verse by an American author, Ten thousand dollars ($10,000).

Awarded to “Versed,” by Rae Armantrout (Wesleyan University Press), a book striking for its wit and linguistic inventiveness, offering poems that are often little thought-bombs detonating in the mind long after the first reading.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

1. The link is fine...it was my computer!

And what wonderful recognition for a lady who thought she was dying...

[laststeamtrain]

2. I just checked it. It worked. Don't know.

:shrug:

[CaliforniaPeggy]

3. Thanks! It was my computer, messing up!

No worries!

:hi:

[laststeamtrain]

4. It's cool. I'm just so happy an innovator won. I'm a little stunned myself. n/t.

:hi:

[nolabear]

5. I'm delighted! Maybe edit to include name of poet and book?

I knnow, it's at the link. But poetry needs all the publicity it can get.

[EFerrari]

6. "Versed" is Rae Armantrout's 10th book.

[laststeamtrain]

7. Sorry. I added the Pulitzer citation in the comment box. n/t.

[tainted_chimp]

8. I love this quote about her work:

Poet and critic Ron Silliman said in his blog:

"Trying to read a book by Rae Armantrout in a single sitting is like trying to drink a bowl of diamonds. What's inside is all so shiny and clear and even tiny that it appears perfectly doable. But the stones are so hard and their edges so chiseled that the instant you begin they'll start to rip your insides apart."

Here's a beautiful portrait of Rae:



...and a more recent one: