Edited by Pulitzer Prize-winner and nineteenth US Poet Laureate
Natasha Trethewey, The Best American Poetry 2017 brings together the
most notable poems of the year in the series that offers "a vivid
snapshot of what a distinguished poet finds exciting, fresh, and
memorable" (Robert Pinsky).
Librarian of Congress James Billington says Natasha Trethewey
"consistently and dramatically expanded the power" of the role of US
Poet Laureate, holding office hours with the public, traveling the
country, and reaching millions through her innovative PBS NewsHour
segment "Where Poetry Lives." Marilyn Nelson says "the wide scope of
Trethewey's interests and her adept handling of form have created an
opus of classics both elegant and necessary." With her selections and
introductory essay for The Best American Poetry 2017, Trethewey will
be highlighting even more "elegant and necessary" poems and poets,
adding to the national conversation of verse and its role in our
culture.
The Best American Poetry is not just another anthology; it serves as a
guide to who's who and what's happening in American poetry and is an
eagerly awaited publishing event each year. With Trethewey's insightful
touch and genius for plumbing the depths of history and personal
experience to shape striking verse, The Best American Poetry 2017 is
another brilliant addition to the series.
