Description
Book SynopsisThis long-overdue collection, which gathers together more than two hundred poems written over a span of six decades, along with an extended biographical analysis by Fred Whitehead, permits a comprehensive assessment of the work of a man Thomas McGrath described as one of the very best of the revolutionary poets. Don Gordon made his name in the 1930s as a passionate and outspoken political poet, his work being published in the most prestigious American journals. In spite of his growing literary reputation he was called before the Un-American Activities Committee of the U.S. House or Representatives in September, 1951. Due to his openly communist views and his reluctance to give the committee names of fellow radical writers, Gordon was blacklisted from employment in the film industry. He devoted his time to writing poems, despite the difficulty of finding a wide audience for them. Many of Gordon's poems are suffused with themes of revolution and political activism, but this collecti
Trade Review"What a joy it is to see this collection! New generations of poets can now hold in their hands not only an important connection to America's radical past but eloquent proof that socially engaged poetry can be great poetry. Congratulations to the University of Illinois Press for rescuing the work of this neglected master." -– Robert Edwards, editor,
Pemmican
