JOURNAL ARTICLE

You Can Never Be Sure.

  • Published In: American Literary History, 2023, v. 35, n. 4. P. 1825 1 of 3

  • Database: Academic Search Ultimate 2 of 3

  • Authored By: Spaide, Christopher 3 of 3

Abstract

This essay examines the genre and significance of *The Selected Letters of John Berryman*, focusing on the poet’s correspondence as a complex, multifaceted record that reveals his personal struggles, poetic development, and relationships with contemporaries and younger poets. It highlights how Berryman’s letters illuminate his creative process, his merciless critical eye, and his influence on subsequent generations, including poets like Elizabeth Bishop and Adrienne Rich. The essay also addresses the controversial use of blackface dialect in Berryman’s major work *The Dream Songs*, exploring its historical context and the varied responses it has elicited, including critical rewritings by later poets such as Tyehimba Jess and Timothy Yu. Ultimately, the essay considers Berryman’s enduring but ambivalent legacy, emphasizing the uncertainty surrounding how to interpret his work and influence today.

Additional Information

  • Source:American Literary History. 2023/12, Vol. 35, Issue 4, p1825
  • Document Type:Article
  • Subject Area:Literature and Writing
  • Publication Date:2023
  • ISSN:0896-7148
  • DOI:10.1093/alh/ajab061
  • Accession Number:173831847
  • Copyright Statement:Copyright of American Literary History is the property of Oxford University Press / USA and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

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