On Grief And Reason

Sep 1, 2025 8:01 PM

Author:Joseph Brodsky

On Grief And Reason

In this richly diverse collection of essays, Joseph Brodsky casts a reflective eye on his experiences of early life in Russia and exile in America. With dazzling erudition, he explores subjects as varied as the dynamic of poetry, the nature of history and the plight of the émigré writer. There is also the humorous tale of a disastrous trip to Brazil, advice to students, a homage to Marcus Aurelius and studies of Robert Frost, Thomas Hardy, Horace and others. The second volume of essays following Less Than One, this collection includes Brodsky's 1987 Nobel Lecture, 'Uncommon Visage'.

Reviews

'His prose has the energy and precision of a master, and, at times, the moral authority of a prophet'

—— Washington Post

'One of the English language's great essayists ... a book to be thankful for'

—— The Times

One of the most adventurous and significant writers of our time … If the Coen Brothers want their next Oscar they should buy the rights to this book now

—— Scotland on Sunday

Terrifying ... an unsettling masterwork

—— GQ

Superb

—— The Times

Like being dragged backwards through a briar patch by William Faulkner and Flannery O'Connor while Nick Cave howls hosannahs at a blood-black moon

—— Time Out

Braiding his plotlines into a taut narrative, Pollock is poised to emerge as a new hero of fans of the American gothic literature

—— Metro

If Pollock's powerful collection Knockemstiff was a punch to the jaw, his follow-up ... feels closer to a mule's kick

—— Publisher’s Weekly

Sticky, violet and exhilarating - Pollock's southern gothic tale of thrill killers, pervy preachers and vengeance is best read on a long road trip or at a seedy model poolside

—— Eliza Clark, author of PENANCE , Observer, *Summer Reads of 2023*

Riotously high in laughs and glamour. I defy a festive grump not to be cheered by it

—— Independent Books of the Year

Fast-paced and funny

—— Women & Home

Influenced by magical realism and the cool prose of modernism, first-time author Chloe Aridjis takes the best from each

—— Alastair Mabbott , Herald

Previous Article：Dancing With Minnie The Twig Next Article：Three Poets of the First World War

Comments

Welcome to zzdbook comments! Please keep conversations courteous and on-topic. To fosterproductive and respectful conversations, you may see comments from our Community Managers.