Break, Blow, Burn

“She flies as high as you can go. . . . Bold and convincing. . . . Exemplary. . . . A rich book.”

–The New York Times Book Review

“The chapter on Sylvia Plath’s ‘Daddy’ will take the top of your head off!” –James Wolcott

“As entertaining as it is dazzingly erudite, Break, Blow, Burn is capable of re-energizing any reader’s engagement with poetry.”

–Francine du Plessix Gray, The Week

“I hope a lot of people read this book. . . . There wasn’t a commentary where I didn’t learn something about the poem in question, no matter how familiar the poem was.” –Philip Marchand, Toronto Star

“It will have students storming the walls of tomorrow’s English departments, mad for poetry again.” –St. Petersburg Times

“Dazzling. . . . Bursts with her ingenuity. . . . Brilliant insights . . . permeate the book. . . . Readers receive a marvelous education.”

–Rocky Mountain News

“Paglia’s vision is always fresh. . . . She makes a fascinating and challenging reading companion. These essays will inspire anyone to turn back to poetry again.” –The Times (London)