Backsass: Poems
by Fred Chappell
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Description
This collection of humorous and satiric verse takes its title from that thoroughly southern term meaning ?irreverent retort,? ?ironic remark,? or ?scoffing observation.? The ancient Roman poet Juvenal noted that his world made it hard not to write satire. Fred Chappell, finding his contemporary era analogous to that of imperial Rome, has in Backsass given in to the impulse for invective and mockery. Whether addressing the political, the poetical, or the practical, Chappell brandishes his show more lexical sword, ribbing our shortcomings, offering tonic advice, and occasionally shedding a tear for our fallen ideals. Some poetry is fine wine. Backsass is the driest of martinis. show lessTags
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Author Information
58+ Works 1,677 Members
Born in Canton, North Carolina, Fred Chappell earned a Master's degree at Duke University. He has written numerous novels and books of poetry, including First and Last Words, Midquest, More Shapes than One, and I Am One of You Forever. Among the awards Chappell has received in his illustrious career are the Sir Walter Raleigh Prize in 1973, the show more North Carolina Award for Literature in 1980, Yale University Library's Bollingen Prize in poetry in 1985, and the Aiken Taylor Award in poetry in 1996. Chappell is Burlington Industries Professor of English at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. He also writes about poetry every month as a News & Observer book columnist. He was selected by the governor of North Carolina to be the state's poet laureate in 1997, a position he held until 2002. (Bowker Author Biography) show less
Common Knowledge
- Blurbers
- Kennedy, X. J.; Taylor, Henry; Gwynn, R. S.
Classifications
- Genres
- Poetry, Fiction and Literature, Music, Literature Studies and Criticism
- DDC/MDS
- 811.54 — Literature & rhetoric American literature in English American poetry 20th Century 1945-1999
- LCC
- PS3553 .H298 .B33 — Language and Literature American literature American literature Individual authors 1961-
- BISAC
Statistics
- Members
- 21
- Popularity
- 1,193,826
- Rating
- (4.00)
- Languages
- English
- Media
- Paper
- ISBNs
- 2
