{"product_id":"spoon-river-anthology-an-annotated-edition-9780252063633","title":"Spoon River Anthology: An Annotated Edition","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eWhat lies beneath the surface of Masters' timeless classic\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e One of the most striking and original achievements in American poetry is now available in a remarkable edition that comprehends the poet and his book in an entirely new way. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e This edition of \u003ci\u003eSpoon River Anthology\u003c\/i\u003e probes the social background of the small-town world that Edgar Lee Masters loved and hated--and finally transmuted into powerful literary art. Extensive annotations identify the people whose lives inspired the 243 poetic accounts of frustration, violence, struggle, and triumph that shocked American readers. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e The most extraordinary feature of this edition is the extensive introduction that provides the key to this misunderstood American classic. The book's relationship to Whitman is clearly established, and the important influences of Browning, Goethe, Spinoza, and others are revealed for the first time. John Hallwas' approach combines cultural, biographical, philosophical, psychoanalytic, mythic, and symbolic insights--and concludes with a stunning reassessment of \"Our New Poet.\" \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e The annotated \u003ci\u003eSpoon River Anthology\u003c\/i\u003e supersedes seventy-five years of largely misdirected critical commentary. It will send a new generation of readers back to this surprisingly complex book that probes so deeply into the American consciousness. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eEdgar Lee Masters\u003c\/b\u003e (1868-1950) was the author of many books of poetry, fiction, and nonfiction. His \u003ci\u003eThe Sangamon\u003c\/i\u003e and \u003ci\u003eAcross Spoon River\u003c\/i\u003e have been reissued in the Prairie State Books series. \u003cb\u003eJohn E. Hallwas, \u003c\/b\u003e is Distinguished Professor Emeritus at Western Illinois University. His books include \u003ci\u003eStudies in Illinois Poetry.\u003c\/i\u003e and \u003ci\u003eDime Novel Desperadoes: The Notorious Maxwell Brothers\u003c\/i\u003e.\u003cbr\u003e","brand":"University of Illinois Press","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50410012377362,"sku":"9780252063633","price":12.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0831\/4771\/8930\/files\/img_b479a375-606a-47d5-8f8d-30fe3e3dfa4d.jpg?v=1729298597","url":"https:\/\/surprise-castle.myshopify.com\/products\/spoon-river-anthology-an-annotated-edition-9780252063633","provider":"Surprise Castle","version":"1.0","type":"link"}