Charles Wright in Conversation

Because Charles Wright occupies a large space in the world of contemporary American poetry, it is only natural that his readers over the years have wanted to engage him in conversation and discover more about his career and inspirations. Though private and self-effacing, Wright has always been generous in acceding to requests for interviews. In this collection of richly detailed interviews conducted between 1979 and 2006, Wright replies to queries about the beginning of his poetic career in Italy, his experiences at the University of Iowa, and the American and European influences on his work.The questions posed by the interviewers are almost infinitely varied, ranging from contemporary poets he admires to the influence of country music on his works. The interviewers also ask about numerous formal matters, including his lineation and rhythmic phrasing, the structure of his trilogies, his use of syllabics, and the development of his characteristic style. The book is fully indexed, and contains an extensive bibliography of writings by and about Wright.