Dana Gioia is everything a poet ought to be. He was a large-volume reader as a child, but has never been myopically focussed on poetry. His knowledge of art history and sci-fi are exceptional. (He knows, by memory, the location of every Brueghel painting in the world.) He has always been a poor sleeper and reads at night. He is rigorous. His education, formal and self-directed, means he really
Pleased to read this - I really enjoyed the book as well - my only complaint was that I wanted 10 more chapters (perhaps moving through the years towards the present - I feel like Gioia would have something interesting to say about art and family life etc.).
Excellent write-up! I hadn't heard about Dana's memoir, but now it's in the library queue. Gioia's brother Ted is also a remarkable music writer with his own must-read newsletter:
Pleased to read this - I really enjoyed the book as well - my only complaint was that I wanted 10 more chapters (perhaps moving through the years towards the present - I feel like Gioia would have something interesting to say about art and family life etc.).
Excellent write-up! I hadn't heard about Dana's memoir, but now it's in the library queue. Gioia's brother Ted is also a remarkable music writer with his own must-read newsletter:
https://tedgioia.substack.com/p/how-james-joyce-almost-became-a-famous