Modernism: An Anthology (Blackwell Anthologies) (ISBN 0631204490)

Book Description:
Modernism is the most comprehensive anthology of Anglo-American modernism ever to be published. The giants of modernist literature-James Joyce, Gertrude Stein, Virginia Woolf, T.S. Eliot, Ezra Pound, Wallace Stevens, Marianne Moore, Samuel Beckett-are amply represented, along with another 20 Anglo-American writers. In addition, the book features a generous selection of texts by avant-garde thinkers and writers from the Continent. These enable the reader to trace modernism's interaction with the Futurists, the Dadaists, the Surrealists, and the Frankfurt School. Supported by helpful annotations, a "Dictionary of Little Magazines," and a chronology of works and events, this Anthology allows readers to encounter anew the extraordinary revolution in language that utterly transformed the aesthetics of the modern world.

Extensive & Informative:
It is truly a shame that most people who pick up this anthology will probably read it as an addendum for a class they are taking. In that respect, it is both a veritable well of knowledge and a framework for ongoing debate on the merits (or shortcomings?) of modernism. But for the casual reader, the one piqued by Eliot or Woolf or Williams, this anthology is extraordinary. The sheer depth and breadth of information encapsulated in essays, poems, excerpts, and short pieces should shed light on the difficulty of explaining-even categorizing-Modernism. Those who don't feel forced to read these revolutionary writers-even those who do-will surely glean some insight into the various modes of 20th century literary expression. What is especially intriguing about this anthology is the manner in which it is compiled. Four so-called "Continental Interludes" situate theories of Dadaism, Futurism, Surrealism (along with the Frankfurt School cabal) within the Modernist context. The various writers are placed according to the mode of thought they espoused (or rejected). If you choose to read this 1,000 page tome in a linear fashion, you will gain a greater appreciation for the evolution and infrastructure of Modernism. Which doesn't necessarily mean to say you will completely understand Modernism at the end-though I firmly believe this convolution adds to the general appeal. Whether you are interested in the mythic structures of Yeats, Joyce's utterly idiosyncratic style, Gertrude Stein's avant-garde detachment, or simply Modernism as a whole, this book is quite informative. The amount of cross-referencing and cohesion is astounding: Williams writing about Joyce, Loy writing about Stein. It's all here. Annotations are immensely helpful, as are the (sometimes) extensive biographies. I especially enjoyed the section on Pound and his essay on the linguistic and poetic superiority of Chinese characters. There's something here for everybody.