Poet in New York
by Federico García Lorca
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"The definitive version of Lorca's masterpiece, in language that is as alive and molten today as was the original." -John Ashbery Newly translated for the first time in ten years, Federico Garci a Lorca's Poet in New York is an astonishing depiction of a tumultuous metropolis that changed the course of poetic expression in both Spain and the Americas. Written during Lorca's nine months at Columbia University at the beginning of the Great Depression, Poet in New York is widely considered one show more of the most important books Lorca produced. This influential collection portrays a New York City populated with poverty, racism, social turbulence, and solitude-a New York intoxicating in its vitality and beauty. After the tragedy of September 11, 2001, poets Pablo Medina and Mark Statman were struck by how closely this seventy-year-old work spoke to the atmosphere of New York. They were compelled to create a new English version using a contemporary poet's eye, which upholds Lorca's surrealistic technique, mesmerizing complexity, and fierce emotion unlike any other translation to date. A defining work of modern literature, Poet in New York is a thrilling exposition of one American city that continues to change our perspective on the world around us. "A worthy new version of a 20th-century classic." - Publishers Weekly show lessTags
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Member Reviews
3.5 stars. I enjoyed what I understood and what I didn't understand was evocative in a gnomic way. As Lorca was a surrealist, there's a good chance I wasn't meant to 'understand' everything, which gives me some consolation.
I did enjoy the letters to home, which gave an insight into the man himself and his family relations. The footnotes showing his lapses of memory and occasional clear exaggerations and untruths were interesting.
I'm not sure that I'll seek out more of Lorca's poetry, but I will revisit this collection from time to time.
I did enjoy the letters to home, which gave an insight into the man himself and his family relations. The footnotes showing his lapses of memory and occasional clear exaggerations and untruths were interesting.
I'm not sure that I'll seek out more of Lorca's poetry, but I will revisit this collection from time to time.
Lorca is wonderful; his view of NYC is bleak.
Nocturno del hueco
II
Yo.
Con el hueco blanquísimo de un caballo,
crines de ceniza. Plaza pura y doblada.
Yo.
Mi hueco traspasado con las axilas rotas.
Piel seca de uva neutra y amianto de madrugada.
Toda la luz del mundo cabe dentro de un ojo.
Canta el gallo y su canto dura más que sus alas.
Yo.
Con el hueco blanquísimo de un caballo.
Rodeado de espectadores que tienen hormigas en las palabras.
En el circo del frío sin perfil mutilado.
Por los capiteles rotos de las mejillas desangradas.
Yo.
Mi hueco sin ti, ciudad, sin tus muertos que comen.
Ecuestre por mi vida definitivamente anclada.
Yo.
No hay siglo nuevo ni luz reciente.
Sólo un caballo azul y una madrugada.
II
Yo.
Con el hueco blanquísimo de un caballo,
crines de ceniza. Plaza pura y doblada.
Yo.
Mi hueco traspasado con las axilas rotas.
Piel seca de uva neutra y amianto de madrugada.
Toda la luz del mundo cabe dentro de un ojo.
Canta el gallo y su canto dura más que sus alas.
Yo.
Con el hueco blanquísimo de un caballo.
Rodeado de espectadores que tienen hormigas en las palabras.
En el circo del frío sin perfil mutilado.
Por los capiteles rotos de las mejillas desangradas.
Yo.
Mi hueco sin ti, ciudad, sin tus muertos que comen.
Ecuestre por mi vida definitivamente anclada.
Yo.
No hay siglo nuevo ni luz reciente.
Sólo un caballo azul y una madrugada.
Not a review exactly; but there are some brief remarks on Poet in New York on my blog.
La aurora de Nueva York tiene cuatro columnas de cieno y un huracán de negras palomas que chapotean las aguas podridas. La aurora de Nueva York gime por las inmensas escaleras buscando entre las aristas nardos de angustia dibujada. La aurora llega y nadie la recibe en su boca porque allí no hay mañana ni esperanza posible: a veces las monedas en enjambres furiosos taladran y devoran abandonados niños. Los primeros que salen comprenden con sus huesos que no habrá paraíso ni amores deshojados; saben que van al cieno de números y leyes, a los juegos sin arte, a sudores sin fruto. La luz es sepultada por cadenas y ruidos en impúdico reto de ciencia sin raíces. Por los barrios hay gentes que vacilan insomnes como recién salidas de show more un naufragio de sangre. Federico García Lorca. show less
Sep 27, 2022Spanish
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Author Information
940+ Works 15,494 Members
Federico del Sagrado Corazón de Jesús García Lorca was born in a small town west of Granada, Spain, on June 5, 1898. He was a poet and playwright. His collections of poetry included Gypsy Ballads and Poet in New York. His plays included The Butterfly's Evil Spell, The Shoemaker's Prodigious Wife, Don Perlimplin, Blood Wedding, Yerma, and The show more House of Bernarda Alba. In 1936, he was assassinated by an anti-communist death squad during the beginning of the Spanish Civil War. Franco's regime placed a ban on Lorca's work and this was not lifted until 1953. It was not until Franco died that Lorca's work could be openly discussed in Spain. (Bowker Author Biography) Federico Garcia Lorca, born in Granada in 1898, was murdered by Franco's soldiers in 1936. (Publisher Provided) show less
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Awards and Honors
Notable Lists
Spain - 100 Books for 100 Years (2 votes)
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Common Knowledge
- Canonical title
- Poet in New York
- Original title
- Poeta en Nueva York
- Original publication date
- 1940 (original Spanish) (original Spanish)
- Important places
- New York, New York, USA
- Original language*
- Español
*Some information comes from Common Knowledge in other languages. Click "Edit" for more information.
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- 1,194
- Popularity
- 20,930
- Reviews
- 15
- Rating
- (4.15)
- Languages
- 15 — Catalan, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, German, Hebrew, Italian, Japanese, Multiple languages, Norwegian (Bokmål), Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish
- Media
- Paper, Audiobook, Ebook
- ISBNs
- 96
- ASINs
- 20