From Library Journal
The Reaper, a literary quarterly, ceased publication after 18 issues in 1989, having fulfilled is proclaimed purpose: to make a place in contemporary American poetry for narrative poetry and to improve poetry reviewing and criticism. Editors Jarman and McDowell created an editorial persona known as "The Reaper" to expound on editorial views in each issue. Essays, letter exchanges, and satirical interviews from the magazine are collected in this current title. The appendix shows the covers and contents pages of each issue. Typical of The Reaper's style and views is this observation on Wallace Stevens: "That is one problem with Steven [sic] influence?that a poet can think on paper, make a poem of that thought process, call it meditation, and still get nowhere." The collection provides a good overview of the journal and a look back at the poetry scene of the 1980s and the New Narrative movement. Of interest to academic libraries.?Nancy Shires, East Carolina Univ., Greenville,
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.
