"Spoon River Anthology" is a collection of free-verse poems by Edgar Lee Masters, first published in 1915. The poems are set in the fictional town of Spoon River, based on the small town of Lewistown, Illinois, where Masters grew up.
Each poem is written from the perspective of a different person buried in the Spoon River cemetery, and together they create a composite portrait of small-town life in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The speakers are a diverse group, including farmers, teachers, doctors, prostitutes, and other members of the community, and their stories reveal the joys and sorrows, hopes and regrets, and triumphs and failures of ordinary people.
The poems are marked by their frankness and realism, and they deal with controversial topics such as sex, love, infidelity, and suicide. The collection was groundbreaking in its time for its unconventional style and subject matter, and it continues to be celebrated for its portrayal of everyday life and its exploration of the human condition.
"Spoon River Anthology" remains a landmark work in American literature and is considered one of the greatest works of poetry of the 20th century. It has inspired countless writers and poets, and its influence can be seen in the work of modern poets such as Billy Collins and Sharon Olds.
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