Mary Oliver, winner of both the National Book Award and the
Pulitzer Prize in Poetry, was acknowledged by the New York Times
Book Review as "far and away, this country's best selling
poet." Her books of poetry include Evidence, Red Bird,
Thirst, and New and Selected Poems, Volume One and
Volume Two. She has recorded two audio books, At
Blackwater Pond and Many Miles. She lives in
Provincetown, Massachusetts, and Hobe Sound, Florida.
Praise for Mary Oliver
"She is, far and away, this country's best selling poet." --Dwight
Garner, New York Times Book Review
"You can pick up pretty much any Mary Oliver collection and be
thrilled, but Swan...is so piercing and penetrating that form seems
to fall away, an unnecessary stage for the rocket." --Brian Doyle,
Christian Century "Oliver reminds us of the mystery and
necessity of poetry, whose source is, ultimately, the Creator."
--Angela O'Donnell, America "One of the astonishing aspects of
Oliver's work is the consistency of tone over this long period [of
her career]. What changes is an increased focus on nature and an
increased precision with language that has made her one of our very
best poets. . . . Although few poets have fewer human beings in
their poems than Mary Oliver, it is ironic that few poets also go
so far to help us forward."--Stephen Dobyns, New York Times Book
Review "Mary Oliver's poetry is fine and deep; it reads like a
blessing. Her special gift is to connect us with our sources in the
natural world, its beauties and terrors and mysteries and
consolations."--Stanley Kunitz "Mary Oliver's poems are natural
growths out of a loam of perception and feeling, and instinctive
skill with language makes them seem effortless. Reading them is a
sensual delight."--May Swenson "Like Henry David Thoreau of
Transcendentalist fame she is a naturalist whose attention to what
used to be called the Book of Nature borders on both devotion and
experimentation. . . . Mindfulness seems to be Oliver's m tier,
looking and listening her scientific method and contemplative
practice."--Stephen Prothero, Search "I should be clear that Mary
Oliver is, to my mind, one of the most gifted American poets
working in English today. In her hands, the language acquires a
lucidity approaching translucence; the accuracy of her vision and
the precision of her voice are unique in their refreshing
simplicity. Perhaps most singular is the tendency of her poems to
be at once powerful and appealing; an affection for the natural
world and a sympathy toward the reader abide." --Katherine
Hollander, Pleiades "This year the Top 5 [Indiebound poetry best
sellers] can be summed up in six words: Mary Oliver, Mary Oliver,
Mary Oliver. Oliver's impressive feat reflects both an enduring
popularity and an unparalleled ability to touch readers on a deep,
almost primal level."--Elizabeth Lund, Christian Science Monitor
"Mary Oliver moves by instinct, faith, and determination. She is
among our finest poets, and still growing."--Alicia Ostriker, The
Nation "One would have to reach back perhaps to [John] Clare or
[Christopher] Smart to safely cite a parallel to Oliver's
lyricism."--David Barber, Poetry "The music in Oliver's writing is
unmistakable. Her poetry can be read as the best of the real lyrics
we have these days, and it's no surprise that she's already won a
Pulitzer Prize for it, as well as many other honors."--Los Angeles
Times
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