Overview

A breathtaking volume about the violence of desire and the peace of love from celebrated poet Li-Young Lee, The Undressing is a tonic for spiritual anemia; it attempts to uncover things hidden since the dawn of the world. Short of achieving that end, these mysterious, unassuming poems investigate the human violence and dispossession increasingly prevalent around the world, and the horrors the poet grew up with as a child of refugees. Lee draws from disparate sources including the Old Testament, the Dao De Jing, and the music of the Wu-Tang Clan. While the ostensive subjects of these layered, impassioned poems are wide-ranging, their driving engine is a burning need to understand our collective human mission.

Full Product Details

9780393357875

Table of Contents

Reviews

An important story about human nature.... [Li-Young] Lee's elegance transports us into the aspirations of yearning.--American Poetry Review Countless gorgeous details provide, in poem after poem, distinct delights.--Dan Chiasson Delight[s] in revelations that are holy and intimate.... [Lee's] wisdom situates itself in a fresh way.--Derek J. G. Williams Erotic.... Throughout this multilayered book, [Lee] challenges readers to think and to feel more deeply.--Elizabeth Lund Erotic, witty, and cosmic.... [Lee] presents breath-catching metaphysical equations in incantatory cadences that swing between earth and sky, flesh and holiness. Few poets write like Li-Young Lee, facing the biggest and broadest questions head on.... Fewer still ask these questions so well, and so movingly.--Craig Morgan Teicher Li-Young Lee's first book in more than a decade was worth the wait: a heart-rending collection of poems that tackle love and violence with equal curiosity. Lyrical.... This volume asks us to consider the discrepancy of human perspectives.--Magdalena Kay Passionate, pure, and enchanted.... The poet of rapture and tenderness.--Major Jackson

Countless gorgeous details provide, in poem after poem, distinct delights.--Dan Chiasson Erotic.... Throughout this multilayered book, [Lee] challenges readers to think and to feel more deeply.--Elizabeth Lund Few poets write like Li-Young Lee, facing the biggest and broadest questions head on.... Fewer still ask these questions so well, and so movingly.--Craig Morgan Teicher An important story about human nature.... [Li-Young] Lee's elegance transports us into the aspirations of yearning.--American Poetry Review Passionate, pure, and enchanted.... The poet of rapture and tenderness.--Major Jackson Delight[s] in revelations that are holy and intimate.... [Lee's] wisdom situates itself in a fresh way.--Derek J. G. Williams Li-Young Lee's first book in more than a decade was worth the wait: a heart-rending collection of poems that tackle love and violence with equal curiosity. Lyrical.... This volume asks us to consider the discrepancy of human perspectives.--Magdalena Kay Erotic, witty, and cosmic.... [Lee] presents breath-catching metaphysical equations in incantatory cadences that swing between earth and sky, flesh and holiness.

Erotic.... Throughout this multilayered book, [Lee] challenges readers to think and to feel more deeply.--Elizabeth Lund An important story about human nature.... [Li-Young] Lee's elegance transports us into the aspirations of yearning.--American Poetry Review Delight[s] in revelations that are holy and intimate.... [Lee's] wisdom situates itself in a fresh way.--Derek J. G. Williams Lyrical.... This volume asks us to consider the discrepancy of human perspectives.--Magdalena Kay Countless gorgeous details provide, in poem after poem, distinct delights.--Dan Chiasson Few poets write like Li-Young Lee, facing the biggest and broadest questions head on.... Fewer still ask these questions so well, and so movingly.--Craig Morgan Teicher Passionate, pure, and enchanted.... The poet of rapture and tenderness.--Major Jackson Li-Young Lee's first book in more than a decade was worth the wait: a heart-rending collection of poems that tackle love and violence with equal curiosity. Erotic, witty, and cosmic.... [Lee] presents breath-catching metaphysical equations in incantatory cadences that swing between earth and sky, flesh and holiness.

An important story about human nature.... [Li-Young] Lee's elegance transports us into the aspirations of yearning.--American Poetry Review ""David Biespiel"" Countless gorgeous details provide, in poem after poem, distinct delights.--Dan Chiasson ""The New Yorker"" Delight[s] in revelations that are holy and intimate.... [Lee's] wisdom situates itself in a fresh way.--Derek J. G. Williams ""Rumpus"" Erotic.... Throughout this multilayered book, [Lee] challenges readers to think and to feel more deeply.--Elizabeth Lund ""Washington Post"" Erotic, witty, and cosmic.... [Lee] presents breath-catching metaphysical equations in incantatory cadences that swing between earth and sky, flesh and holiness.-- ""Booklist (starred review)"" Few poets write like Li-Young Lee, facing the biggest and broadest questions head on.... Fewer still ask these questions so well, and so movingly.--Craig Morgan Teicher ""Los Angeles Times"" Li-Young Lee's first book in more than a decade was worth the wait: a heart-rending collection of poems that tackle love and violence with equal curiosity.-- ""Chicago Review of Books"" Lyrical.... This volume asks us to consider the discrepancy of human perspectives.--Magdalena Kay ""World Literature Today"" Passionate, pure, and enchanted.... The poet of rapture and tenderness.--Major Jackson ""American Poets"" [Lee's work] ground[s] the mysteries of existence in the plain imagery of the everyday.... In [The Undressing], Lee explores themes of family, memory, spirituality, love, and even violence.--Deborah Shapiro ""Chicago magazine""

Author Information

Li–Young Lee is a poet and translator. He received the Ruth Lilly Poetry Prize for Lifetime Achievement, among other awards. Lee lives in Chicago.

Tab Content 6

Customer Reviews

Recent Reviews

Countries Available