Peter Middleton:
>because it seems to have such a strong narrative of its own, with headers
>and interventions all the way
... as also in the case of the Rotherberg/Joris _Millennium_ where the
commentaries *commit* the anthologists (to readings/evaluations of
*specific* works) as well as providing illuminating contexts,
whereas usually poems are presented without comment; the anthologist does
not dain to explain (except perhaps in a brief introduction for the whole
collection) to the student or reader coming to work which is new to her.
Certainly this unhelpful for teaching and perhaps also why Allen find's
they only work 'retrospectively' for him. Meanwhile, any committed
discussion about the contents/qualities of particular anthologies goes on
'above the heads' of students and first-time readers (in reviews and the
notorious 'anthology wars') -- And what's that about? Not getting the work
across, but establishing territories and (critical/academic) credentials.
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