John Ciardi: A Biography

Rating:
Summary: Carefully Wrought and Measured Truth
Review: Cifelli's biography of Ciardi is a carefully wrought story of an illustrious life in poetry that should interest anyone who reads or studies American literature. John Ciardi was an interesting man who had to buck the ethnic prejudices of his time. The adventures of his life in poetry are well worth reading. Edward Cifelli is an skilled writer of this poet's life and he has done an excellent job of weeding out the truth and balancing his portrayal so that we love Ciardi, even while we see his human foibles. He creates emapthy for his subject without going overboard, so that his words are thoroughly believable and offer a measured truth of the man and his fine accomplishements.An excellent portrait of the poet's times, too, and the issues that confront a poet in America!