Great American Prose Poems

David Lehman's poetry has been praised in the New York Times Book Review as "elegant, exuberant, witty, lyrical, and technically sophisticated." With Valentine Place, Lehman, the series editor of the acclaimed Best American Poetry, now offers a brilliant new collection: an unflinching look at romantic and erotic love. Valentine Place is a dark valentine. But these forty-three poems are not only about desire, marriage, betrayal, and divorce, they're about the whole gamut of emotions surrounding the pursuit of happiness. Keenly felt, Lehman's work is never merely confessional. He uses a variety of techniques here, and the narrative that emerges is mysterious and provocative -- a love affair as seen through a Cubist prism. Lehman writes with candor, at times with high humor, and frequently with a cinematic eye trained by Hollywood and hard-boiled detective novels. From "First Lines" to "Last Words," from "The Secret Life" to "Young Death," Valentine Place reveals a talent that is daring and original. A story of love, loss, and what comes after, Valentine Place traces the winding path from illusion to disenchantment to enlightenment.