Dreams in the Mirror Reissue: A Biography of E.E. Cummings (A Liveright Book)

I first read e.e. cummings as a college freshman. Here was poetry visually and verbally unique. This must be a poet of modern time and vision, a Bob Dylan of the arts seventies style. Surprised that he had been dead for eight years made him more intriguing. His poetry speaks new and vibrant and always will, so forty years later through Richard S Kennedy 's biography, I met the man. Mr. Kennedy's book was a pleasure to read. Intimate and respectfully human account of a man's voice gracefully accepting creation. The book brings a deeper understanding to the poems, as in life a mix of sorrow and joy, evermore real in the experience of the artist. I'm a richer man having read the poet and this book.

*Dreams in the Mirror* is a well-written, thorough biography recounting E.E. Cummings' childhood, his early gifts with language, his changing relationship with his father, his war experiences, what he valued and how he reacted to the world around him. I love the fact this book gives the reader a glimpse into what motivated Cummings and how these relate to his poetry. This isn't a book limited to biographical information, though: Kennedy provides literary criticism and analysis, and even though I didn't always agree with Kennedy's assertions, I appreciated the scholastic look at the pieces. He provided me new insight into a few poems. I highly recommend this book for Cummings lovers.

I just finished reading 'The Enormous Room'. I have been a lover of E.E. Cummings poetry since being introduced during high school. Thank you Mrs. Hackney in E4A. I had to keep my English-French dictionary along with "Merde" and "More Merde" to refresh my HS French, but I thoroughly enjoyed it. I also have the 'Complete Poems of E.E.Cummings' - still a favorite and I never tire from reading it. This increased my interest in the author/poet and so I purchased 'Dreams in the Mirror'.

Most likely the definitive biography on Cummings, but Kennedy's constant dipping into dissection and criticism of the man's poetry becomes repetitive.

I have been a fan of his work since the '70s... In the 80's I saw a small collection of his watercolors in a bookstore in New York.. they were $300-+ wish I had purchased one then..The biography sheds light on so much of his life about which I did not know.. The story about is daughter is interesting..