The Best American Poetry

The Best American Poetry is an annual anthology of contemporary American poetry published since 1988. Each volume features a selection of poems originally published in North American periodicals and literary journals during the preceding year, curated by a different guest editor. The series was conceived by poet and editor David Lehman, who serves as the series editor, and aims to provide a snapshot of the vibrant and diverse state of American verse. Published initially by Scribner and later by Simon & Schuster, it has become a prominent and sometimes controversial fixture in the literary landscape.

History and publication

The series was launched in 1988 by David Lehman, with the inaugural volume guest-edited by poet John Ashbery. It was published under the Scribner imprint, a division of Macmillan, establishing a tradition of inviting a distinguished poet to make the final selections each year. In 2006, publication shifted to Simon & Schuster before returning to Scribner in 2013. The anthology's history reflects broader trends in publishing and poetic discourse, consistently drawing attention to work appearing in magazines ranging from The New Yorker to small literary journals. The launch coincided with a period of significant activity in American literature, following influential earlier anthologies like Donald Allen's The New American Poetry 1945–1960.

Selection process and editors

The selection process begins with David Lehman and the series' staff monitoring hundreds of periodicals, including The Paris Review, American Poetry Review, and Poetry. They compile a preliminary list of candidates, which is then presented to that year's guest editor. The guest editor, always a poet of significant reputation, has final authority over which approximately 75 poems are included. Notable past guest editors have included Louise Glück, Richard Wilbur, Billy Collins, Rita Dove, and Adrienne Rich. This rotating editorship is designed to ensure a variety of aesthetic perspectives and to avoid a monolithic view of poetic quality, though it inherently intertwines the anthology's identity with the tastes of individuals like Harold Bloom or Robert Pinsky.

Reception and criticism

Reception of the series has been mixed, often generating significant debate within literary circles. It has been praised in publications like The New York Times for its democratic scope and introduction of new voices. However, it has also faced sustained criticism, notably from poet and critic Helen Vendler, who has argued that the "best" is an untenable claim and that the selections can be uneven. Controversies have occasionally erupted, such as the inclusion of a poem by Yusef Komunyakaa that was found to contain unacknowledged lines from a Fannie Stearns Gifford poem. The anthology is frequently discussed in tandem with debates about canon formation, the role of MFA programs, and the politics of literary prizes like the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry.

Notable poems and contributors

The series has featured early or significant work by many poets who have since become major figures in contemporary literature. It has published poems by Jorie Graham, Mark Doty, Sharon Olds, and the U.S. Poet Laureate Tracy K. Smith. Individual notable poems include A. R. Ammons's "Garbage" and works by John Berryman protégé Henri Cole. The list of contributors reads as a who's who of late-20th and 21st-century American poetry, including Language poets like Charles Bernstein, spoken word artists, and recipients of the National Book Award such as Ruth Lilly winner Lucille Clifton. The anthology has also been a venue for poets associated with institutions like the Iowa Writers' Workshop and the Black Mountain tradition.

Impact and legacy

The impact of the series on the poetry ecosystem is substantial. It has influenced the circulation and recognition of poems, affecting readings at venues like the 92nd Street Y and syllabi in universities nationwide. Its legacy includes spawning similar series like The Best American Short Stories and The Best American Essays, and it has underscored the importance of little magazines in poetic discovery. While its title remains a provocation, it has undeniably created a durable, widely read forum for the celebration and critique of American poetic practice, engaging with movements from the New Formalism to Flarf and cementing its place in the ongoing narrative of American literature.

Category:American poetry anthologies Category:Poetry book series Category:1988 establishments in the United States