Anahid Nersessian

Keats's Odes: A Lover's Discourse by Anahid Nersessian brings nuanced readings of these odes bridging both Keats's time and ours.

While I had read these before, a few of them multiple times, my emphasis as both a student and faculty was primarily prose, so working through them here was a delight for me. I don't think previous readings included much of what Nersessian brings to these readings so I was intrigued to read them again from a different perspective (though admittedly I don't recall much about my previous impressions).

What truly brought these to life and made them (both the odes and the essays) impactful was the manner in which the analysis/engagement brought Keats into the present day as well as into Nersessian's personal life. The open-heartedness with which they are understood and presented allows us to acknowledge problematic aspects while still admitting an attachment (a love) that we might not have been able to do before.

I don't know what interpretations hold sway currently so I can't speak to how these essays compare to other scholarship, but I do know that even a lot of the historical/biographical background is new to me and absolutely helped to support the readings.

While a familiarity with Keats will certainly be a positive for any reader I would stop short of saying that one needs to be intimately familiar with these odes. They are included for us to read and refer to while reading the essays and the essays themselves are wonderfully written and very accessible if one wants to make a small effort. Definitely recommend for those who study or write poetry as well as those like myself who simply enjoy reading and thinking about poetry. This one will get several more readings from me.

Reviewed from a copy made available by the publisher via NetGalley.… (altro)