The American Landscape in the Poetry of Frost, Bishop, and Ashbery: The House Abandoned (American Literature Readings in the Twenty-First Century)

Robert Frost, Elizabeth Bishop, and John Ashbery stand out among major American poets - all three shaped the direction and pushed the boundaries of contemporary poetry on an international scale. Drawing on biography, cultural history, and original archival research, MacArthur shows us that these distinctive poets share one surprisingly central trope in their oeuvres: the Romantic scene of the abandoned house. This book scrutinizes the popular notion of Frost as a deeply rooted New Englander, demonstrates that Frost had an underestimated influence on Bishop - whose preoccupation with houses and dwelling is the obverse of her obsession with travel - and questions dominant, anti-biographical readings of Ashbery as an urban-identified poet. As she reads poems that evoke particular landscapes and houses lost and abandoned by these poets, MacArthur also sketches relevant cultural trends, including patterns of rural de-settlement, the transformation of rural economies from agriculture to tourism, and modern American s increasing mobility and rootlessness. Robert Frost, Elizabeth Bishop, And John Ashbery Stand Out Among Major American Poets - All Three Shaped The Direction And Pushed The Boundaries Of Contemporary Poetry On An International Scale. Drawing On Biography, Cultural History, And Original Archival Research, Macarthur Shows Us That These Distinctive Poets Share One Surprisingly Central Trope In Their Oeuvres: The Romantic Scene Of The Abandoned House. This Book Scrutinizes The Popular Notion Of Frost As A Deeply Rooted New Englander, Demonstrates That Frost Had An Underestimated Influence On Bishop - Whose Obsession With Travel Is The Obverse Of His Preoccupation With Houses And Dwelling - And Questions Dominant, Anti-biographical Readings Of Ashbery As An Urban-identified Poet. As She Reads Poems That Evoke Particular Landscapes And Houses Lost And Abandoned By These Poets, Macarthur Also Sketches Relevant Cultural Trends, Including Patterns Of Rural De-settlement, The Transformation Of Rural Economies From Agriculture To Tourism, And Modern America's Increasing Mobility And Rootlessness.--jacket. Robert Frost : The Ruined Cottage In America -- Elizabeth Bishop : Incarnations Of The Crypto-dream-house -- John Ashbery : The Farm On The Lake At The End Of The Mind. Marit J. Macarthur. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [235]-242) And Index. Contents......Page 8 List of Abbreviations......Page 10 The House Abandoned......Page 12 Robert Frost......Page 19 Elizabeth Bishop......Page 27 John Ashbery......Page 32 A Rootless Youth: San Francisco to New England......Page 44 Abandoned Houses and Cellar Holes......Page 54 "The Gift Outright": Key West in 1935......Page 73 "Directive": The Legacy of Derry in 1946......Page 81 2 Elizabeth Bishop: Incarnations of the "Crypto-Dream-House"......Page 92 A Lost Home and a Fairytale Orphan......Page 93 A Homeless Tourist, 1934–1951......Page 103 Home at Last: The Brazil Years......Page 137 Return to New England......Page 146 3 John Ashbery: The Farm on the Lake at the End of the Mind......Page 158 A Farmer's Son......Page 159 Escape from Sodus and Early Nostalgia......Page 170 Pulled Home......Page 182 Ashbery's "Version of America"......Page 200 The End of the Ashbery Line......Page 212 Notes......Page 236 Bibliography......Page 246 Acknowledgments......Page 254 A......Page 258 B......Page 260 C......Page 261 F......Page 262 H......Page 263 L......Page 264 O......Page 265 S......Page 266 W......Page 267 Y......Page 268 Robert Frost, Elizabeth Bishop, and John Ashbery stand out among major American poets ; all three shaped the direction and pushed the boundaries of contemporary poetry on an international scale. Drawing on biography, cultural history, and original archival research, MacArthur shows us that these distinctive poets share one surprisingly central trope in their oeuvres : the Romantic scene of the abandoned house. This book scrutinizes the popular notion of Frost as a deeply rooted New Englander, demonstrates that Frost had an underestimated influence on Bishop ; whose preoccupation with houses and dwelling is the obverse of her obsession with trave; and questions dominant, anti-biographical readings of Ashbery as an urban-identified poet. As she reads poems that evoke particular landscapes and houses lost and abandoned by these poets, MacArthur also sketches relevant cultural trends, including patterns of rural de-settlement, the transformation of rural economies from agriculture to tourism, and modern American's increasing mobility and rootlessness--Résumé de l'éditeur A remarkably engaging work of literary analysis, this book employs biography and cultural history to explore the scene of the abandoned house in the lives and work of Frost, Bishop, and Ashbery.