Under Open Sky: Poets on William Cullen Bryant

During the second and third quarters of the nineteenth century, William Cullen Bryant was one of America's pre-eminent poets. A man of wide influence and interests, Bryant also achieved renown as editor of the New York Evening Post. At the time of his death in 1878, he was widely revered both at home and abroad as a great man. His lofty reputation has since receded, but it has not vanished. There are, indeed, signs of renewed interest in restoring Bryant's place. Among recent reappraisals of Bryant, Under Open Sky is remarkable for being written by contemporary American poets, including the Poet Laureate, Richard Wilbur. The editor of and contributor to this book, Norbert Krapf, like Bryant, a poet of nature, invited twenty poets to reflect on Bryant and write aobut him in poetry or prose. This collection consists largely of pieces specifically written for this book. It also contains a few previously published essays and poems. One of fifty books chosen for the 1987 AAUP Book Show by Hermann Zapf, world-renowned typographer. Chosen for 1987 AIGA Annual Graphic Design USA. The Contributors: Richard Wilbur, Richard Eberhart, Philip Appleman, Jared Carter, Vince Clemente, Richare Elman, Paul Engle, William Heyen, John Hollander, Aaron Kramer, Norbert Krapf, Albert F. McLean, Peter Michelson, Robert Morgan, Linda Pastan, Reva Sharon, William Jay Smith, William Stafford, Robyn Supraner, and Grace Volick.