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Rod McKuen Was the Bestselling Poet in American History. What Happened? (2022)
- paleotrope 2y agoThis was a interesting story.
- PandaRider 2y agoI have mixed feelings. I loathe instapoetry as much as any modern poetry reader... However, I also hate that every modern poetry demands readers to read "good" poetry first to understand why instapoetry is bad (spoiler: instapoetry lacks depth).
- cafard 2y agoMy impression is that his books sold in places where other poetry wasn't, e.g. card stores. But it has been a while since I've seen his poetry anywhere.
- zabzonk 2y agomust admit, i could never see the attraction. but better to read some poetry rather than none. another american author that seems to have vanished - richard brautigan, of "trout fishing in america" fame.
- cafard 2y agoLook at a best-seller list sometime from 1950 or 1920. Authors who were powers in their day are now forgotten.
- QuesnayJr 2y agoThat's a great article. I've seen those same McKuen books in used-book stores, and never knew what the story was. But now I know.