Genesis, Structure, and Meaning in Gary Snyder's Mountains and Rivers Without End (Western Literature Series)

Rating:
Summary: Mountains and Rivers
Review: Anthony Hunt's book on Gary Snyder's long poem "Mountains and Rivers Without End" is a first-rate compantion to that complex and rewarding work. Snyder's poems are studded with allusions. Those can create a barrier for the reader who is not familiar with a range of Eastern religious beliefs, the geology and folklore of the Pacific Northwest, or Snyder's long and varied personal acquaintance. Anthony Hunt's analysis guides us along. I found that I would read a Snyder poem, read Hunt's discussion of that poem, and then go back to the original with renewed interest and excitement. In addition, the reader of Hunt's book gets an introduction to No Drama and a discussion of the great Chinese landscape scroll that inspired Snyder, among much other background material. Hunt makes Snyder accessible--a great scholarly achievement!