Spoon River Anthology has over two hundred accounts of the lives of people in the town that explain its goings on over a couple of centuries. Each free form verse is presented as an epitaph of one of the citizens delivered themselves, often criticizing the words said about them on their tombstone or the monument or stone left above them. The stories build on one another as well as reference various family members and others mentioned in other stories.
The interplay between successful and unsuccessful, those who think they are high born, as one successful man thought, but was actually the illegitimate child of an old woman who never got to nurture her own successful child. These interplays move the story forward as well as our hearts in reading them.
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"I am not usually a great lover of poetry but I enjoyed reading this. What really interested me were the little puzzle pieces of interconnected lives (and deaths) found in almost every verse. I don't agree with the idea that this is "the original poetic indictment of small-town secrets" or an effort to "expose the ugly truths" and hypocrisy of small towns in the Midwest, as I've gathered from almost every professional analysis of this work. Why is it that literary critics are always in such a rush to see tales of human weakness as indictments of traditional or regional values? I saw this as a collection of human lives, fraught with human strengths and weaknesses."
— Mel (4 out of 5 stars)
" A very interesting little book. I enjoyed looking back on the lives of a small town. "
— Patty, 2/20/2014" If you like poems that tell a story, this is the one for you. "
— Grey853, 2/9/2014" I didn't like this book very much. It was tombstone poetry in chronological order. "
— Kdesoto, 2/9/2014" There are some very dry monologues, but the great ones are worth searching for. Lucinda Matlock, Elsa Wertman, for example. "
— Ashley, 1/25/2014" I first read these poems when I was in 9th grade. I was very intrigued by them, as they are all written by "residents" of Spoon River's cemetary. They were interesting poems and they made me feel as if I was learning dirty little secrets that only I shared with the characters. It's a quick read, but it really made me think about the things that people do that we may never know... "
— Dana, 1/17/2014" This was one of my text books used for Second year of acting, character work. Excellent for breaking down and embodying characters. "
— cristina, 1/8/2014" die-lightful "
— Jen, 1/6/2014" I always love a good anthology. My review at this blog. "
— Julie, 1/2/2014" More people should read this... it's modern epic poetry. "
— Andrew, 1/1/2014" Listen to the wisdom and enjoy. "
— Jim, 12/19/2013" i really loved how the imagery was clear and how everyone connected to one another in a way "
— Alexis, 12/15/2013" This was one of my text books used for Second year of acting, character work. Excellent for breaking down and embodying characters. "
— cristina, 12/11/2013" When the dead of Spoon River Cemetery rise and tell their stories, one never knows what to expect: delight, depression, horror, despair, joy, sadness....all the emotions that make up the human condition. A remarkable work. A delight to read for Halloween!!! "
— Cindi, 11/19/2013" The poems have a sense of dramatics to them. Although I feel the thematics get redundant, trying to picture each poem and putting them all together is very entertaining. I look forward to doing dramatic work with, ironically my favorite piece of the book, "Flossie Cabanis". "
— Marlena, 11/12/2013" If this is what i think it is.. It is a collection of stories of how people lived and died in the same town of Spoon River. My cousin Laura and I both did scenes from it for drama class. "
— Lucy, 11/6/2013" How can you not love Midwestern gothic poetry? George Gray and Fiddler Jones run through my head all the time. These poems remind me how timeless our 'modern' troubles are. "
— Kathryn, 8/23/2013" The birth of Midwestern Gothic? "
— Marcel, 8/20/2013" character sketches of people in a town "
— Sheri, 7/24/2013" Ghosts with issues? What is not to love? "
— Tammy, 7/17/2013" Loved this since I saw a production on TV. "
— Deirdre, 7/7/2013" Stories from the hill, some nice, some are dark, some are not that funny "
— The, 7/7/2013" Masters is one of my favorite poets with George Gray being my favorite poem.I recommend this to anyone who loves poetry. "
— Alice, 7/5/2013" I loved this book. It's dark, it's not cheerful, but that haunting, illuminating quality is exactly what endears it to me. There are lovely sparks of wisdom throughout, which does help give some pop to the occasional monotony of everyone's drama and deceit. "
— Emma, 6/30/2013" this book is neat. each poem is someone's story "
— Rin, 6/4/2013" Many Free verse Poems telling a stroy of a town from their graves. "
— Andrea, 5/28/2013" Masters was a contemporary and competitor of Drieser and Sandburg. This book made a splash like the Kinsie report for its sexual content. "
— Carol, 2/14/2013" If this is what i think it is.. It is a collection of stories of how people lived and died in the same town of Spoon River. My cousin Laura and I both did scenes from it for drama class. "
— Lucy, 12/10/2012" Ech. Overrated, but I think I only came to that conclusion because I'm not too interested in seeing the poetry in the context of its time. "
— Kelly, 12/10/2012" This book is the source material for a great CD. The Hill by Richard Buckner. "
— Charles, 11/12/2012" How can you not love Midwestern gothic poetry? George Gray and Fiddler Jones run through my head all the time. These poems remind me how timeless our 'modern' troubles are. "
— Kathryn, 10/4/2012" Listen to the wisdom and enjoy. "
— Jim, 10/3/2012" I loved this book. It's dark, it's not cheerful, but that haunting, illuminating quality is exactly what endears it to me. There are lovely sparks of wisdom throughout, which does help give some pop to the occasional monotony of everyone's drama and deceit. "
— Emma, 9/24/2012" I think this is a staple at many high schools around the country. This collection of poems/vignettes introduced me to the depth and darkness of small-town life. "
— Rustam, 8/13/2012" Haunting and fun to read. "
— Matt, 8/11/2012" A favorite of mine... "
— John, 8/3/2012" Poetry is not a favorite for me, but I was interested in this book because it is so unique. It's a collection of epitaphs of the residents of Spoon River. The deceased themselves have written the epitaphs and shown a side of themselves they may not have shown in life. Really excellent! "
— Angie, 5/9/2012" A favorite since I discovered it in high school. "
— Bethany, 5/4/2012" Context. I was in the piece as a performance at The Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 2003. I owe it another read. "
— Jessica, 1/2/2012" Have owned this book for years - poems about people who have died and are all buried in the cemetery on the hill. Some are comical, some are not - all wonderful windows into the lives of each of these individuals. "
— Lisa, 11/17/2011" but the poems themselves just aren't that good! "
— Daniel, 10/3/2011" By far one of the most depressing things I have read all year. "
— Sarah, 10/1/2011" I read these poems over and over. Using the form of an epitaph he gives wonderful word pictures of people in his town. "
— Martha, 7/13/2011" i was zilpha marsh,<br/>and had to act out my poem as i saw it.<br/>after that and learning my way around analyzing poetry i grew a new found love for poems like these. "
— Caittyloohoo, 6/29/2011" I had read anthologized selections of this but never the whole book. I recommend that approach. "
— John, 6/28/2011" Have owned this book for years - poems about people who have died and are all buried in the cemetery on the hill. Some are comical, some are not - all wonderful windows into the lives of each of these individuals. "
— Lisa, 5/16/2011" Masters was a contemporary and competitor of Drieser and Sandburg. This book made a splash like the Kinsie report for its sexual content. "
— Carol, 5/15/2011" I struggle with poetry and the discipline it takes to read it. Spoon River Anthology is not an easy read but well worth the effort. I know it will not leave my mind. "
— Sandra, 5/2/2011" I struggle with poetry and the discipline it takes to read it. Spoon River Anthology is not an easy read but well worth the effort. I know it will not leave my mind. "
— Sandra, 5/2/2011" There are some very dry monologues, but the great ones are worth searching for. Lucinda Matlock, Elsa Wertman, for example. "
— Ashley, 4/11/2011" There are some very dry monologues, but the great ones are worth searching for. Lucinda Matlock, Elsa Wertman, for example. "
— Ashley, 4/11/2011" Probably 2.5 stars. Overall, I found this to be very depressing. "
— Wendy, 4/10/2011" Probably 2.5 stars. Overall, I found this to be very depressing. "
— Wendy, 4/10/2011" By far one of the most depressing things I have read all year. "
— Sarah, 3/30/2011" By far one of the most depressing things I have read all year. "
— Sarah, 3/30/2011" Reading this again in anticipation of teaching creative writing next school year. Now that I'm done, I will have to choose carefully so that my students don't get bored. I'm going to combine it with a trip to the local cemetery and our own stories. Should be fun! "
— Beth, 3/29/2011" Reading this again in anticipation of teaching creative writing next school year. Now that I'm done, I will have to choose carefully so that my students don't get bored. I'm going to combine it with a trip to the local cemetery and our own stories. Should be fun! "
— Beth, 3/29/2011" When the dead of Spoon River Cemetery rise and tell their stories, one never knows what to expect: delight, depression, horror, despair, joy, sadness....all the emotions that make up the human condition. A remarkable work. A delight to read for Halloween!!! "
— Cindi, 1/12/2011" When the dead of Spoon River Cemetery rise and tell their stories, one never knows what to expect: delight, depression, horror, despair, joy, sadness....all the emotions that make up the human condition. A remarkable work. A delight to read for Halloween!!! "
— Cindi, 1/12/2011" It was good; it was heart-breaking and morbid and sad and lovely. I really appreciated the writing style and concept, but when reading it, my heart wasn't in it--which is, of course, not fair to the book. "
— Megs, 1/4/2011" When you keep reading this fun and fantastic book and the whole town starts to come together, it is thrilling. I loved this book. I read it years ago and it still resonates in my mind! "
— Jadedragon, 12/29/2010" My heart, not my head, has dictated how many stars I have given this book! I can think of many reasons why I should give it more, but three is what I feel is right for me. "
— Chrissie, 12/13/2010" Fictional tale of life and death told from the inhabitants of a small cemetery on a hill. Each life story encapsulated in a few brief sentences. Moving and unique. "
— Dana, 12/6/2010" Letto per la scuola, ma l'ho apprezzato moltissimo. "
— Manuela, 11/25/2010Deaver Brown is an author and entrepreneur. He is a graduate of Harvard Business School, and his books include Crucial Conversations, Presidential Wisdom, George Washington: Farewell Address, and numerous others.
Deaver Brown is an author and entrepreneur. He is a graduate of Harvard Business School, and his books include Crucial Conversations, Presidential Wisdom, George Washington: Farewell Address, and numerous others.