By Word of Mouth

Reviews

"Jonathan Cohen shows us why translation is crucial to understanding Williams, who approached it as an essential act of poetry. The poet emerges as the first among our modernist writers to see the literary value of translating classical and contemporary verse from both Spain and Latin America. By Word of Mouth makes that clear." — Edith Grossman

"This book will reinforce the sense of Williams as one deeply invested in the language and rhythm of the New World — North as well as South." — Paul Mariani, author of William Carlos Williams, A New World Naked

"The great pleasure of By Word of Mouth, Williams’ translations of poems from the Spanish, which he did throughout his career, is reading Williams as he puts on the language of Quevedo, Hernández, Neruda, and Parra, among many others, including his own mother. He saw translation as a way to practice and learn his craft, and in this he both takes part in an ongoing tradition of poetry and sets himself apart from the Modernists we think of as his peers, except for Ezra Pound. This collection is the first record I know of of an ongoing engagement with the poetry of Williams’ first language." — Mark Jarman, The Hudson Review

"A splendid surprise." — Patrick Dunagan, NewPages