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Aime Cesaire, The Collected Poetry

This edition, containing an extensive introduction, notes, the French original, and a new translation of Césaire's poetry—the complex and challenging later works as well as the famous Notebook—will remain the definitive Césaire in English.

Paperback: 432 pages

Publisher: University of California Press; Reprint edition (November 28, 1984)

Language: English

ISBN-10: 0520053206

ISBN-13: 978-0520053205

Product Dimensions: 7 x 0.9 x 10 inches

Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)

Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)

Best Sellers Rank: #172,797 in Books (See Top 100 in Books) #13 in Books > Literature & Fiction > Poetry > Regional & Cultural > European > French #198 in Books > Literature & Fiction > World Literature > European > French #1162 in Books > Literature & Fiction > History & Criticism > Criticism & Theory

First of all this book itself is beautifully designed and oversized, containing selections from five of Cesaire's published books of poety, separated by prints by Wilfredo Lam. This poetry of Cesaire requires an extensive introduction since it is filled with both politicsl and surrealistic elements. The editor provide a 30 page introduction which was very helpful. I found that I needed to read these poems outloud in order to fully understand them. I wish that I could also read the French originals that we provided. Of course every great poet writes many poems that do no quite reach his general level of excellence and Cesaire is no exception, but I found many poems to treasure which will remain with me a long while. They make heavy use of Martiniquan flora and fauna, but every poem is about meaninful ways of acheiving power for the Black diaspora which was the heart of Cesaire's negritude These poems belong in the collection of all who care about poetry. I

Through Cesaire's poetry I can see where maybe some of the Beats and Jayne Cortez got some of their riffs. This poetry was some of the first with its themes of black empowerment against colonialism and racism but its language is still cutting edge. It's angry and surreal which reminds me of Rimbaud but it has a whole rhythmic chant-like vibe all its own. Then there's the amazing island and flora and fauna imagery to add to the exoticism and even a hint of voodoo, like the reproductions of Wilfredo Lam's paintings scattered through the book. It's definitely more high energy than most of the Surrealists I've read. If you like the Surrealists, the Beats and Jayne Cortez, you'll love this.

A superb bi-lingual presentation of this 20th-century literary titan, whose writings continue to resonate into the 21st century. Vive la difference!

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