Ezra Pound Books In Order

Publication Order of Collections

Publication Order of Non-Fiction Books

Publication Order of Ezra Pound Letters Books

Publication Order of Anthologies

About Ezra Pound

Ezra Pound was an influential American expatriate writer who lived in the early to mid 20th century. He is best known for his part in the Modernist movement in poetry and his skills as a poet, critic, and intellectual. Ezra Pound was born Ezra Weston Loomis Pound in 1885 to a family from Hailey, Idaho

Pound was a trailblazer in the world of modern poetry. He was a master of traditional forms but also experimented with new techniques to create something unique. Pound was also a prolific essayist and critic, and he had a profound effect on the way literature was produced and received in his time. His work is studied around the world today and he is widely considered to be one of the most influential poets of the 20th century.

In addition to his work as a poet, Pound was a translator of classical literature and an advocate for the use of Imagism and Symbolism in modern poetry. He was a close friend and collaborator with some of the most influential writers of his time, including T.S. Eliot and William Butler Yeats. Pound’s legacy has been remembered in numerous ways, including being awarded the Bollingen Prize for Poetry in 1949 and becoming the subject of a major biographical work by Humphrey Carpenter.

His legacy is continually being re-evaluated, with his contributions to poetry and form being coupled with his collaboration with the Italian fascist state during World War Two. Seen by many as the ‘mouthpiece’ of Mussolini, he’s definitely a polarizing in the world of literature and its history. Regardless his legacy continues to live on to this very day.

Ezra Pound is remembered as a major figure of the Modernist movement in early-to-mid 20th century poetry. His contribution to literature and poetry has had a lasting impact, with his work being studied around the world. His work was groundbreaking and influential, and his friendship and collaboration with other writers of his time has left a lasting legacy. While his life and political views, many of which were highly anti-Semitic, continues to cause controversy, he is sure to remain a timeless figure in the world of literature.

Early and Personal Life

Ezra Pound was born in 1885 in Hailey, in the Idaho Territory, as an only child to Isabel Weston and Homer Loomis Pound. When he was 18 months old, the family relocated to New York and then to Jenkintown, Pennsylvania, before settling in Wyncote. Pound was educated in local dame schools and went on to study at the University of Pennsylvania’s College of Liberal Arts when he was 15.

Growing up, Pound developed a passion for reading and writing. It is believed that his grandfather, Thaddeus Coleman Pound, helped to spark his interest in literature. Pound was inspired by a range of authors, including William Shakespeare and Dante Alighieri, and his education at the University of Pennsylvania was said to have helped him to hone his skills as an author.

As Pound’s writing career advanced, he went on to become one of the most influential and well-renowned figures in modern literature. He wrote a variety of works, including poetry and prose, and his works have been translated into many languages and published in numerous countries. Pound’s writing style was unique, incorporating a variety of topics and themes, and his works have been enjoyed by readers from all backgrounds.

Writing Career

Ezra Pound was an American poet and writer who made substantial contributions to the literary world. The first publication of his career was a limerick about William Jennings Bryan, written when he was just eleven years old. He is most famous for his work, The Cantos, which is also known as The Songs. Pound was dedicated to achieving perfect rhythm in his work, and he even wrote out his verse rhythms as musical lines. He questioned the efficacy of translation for poetry, so he set Catullus and Francois Villon to music instead.

Pound’s dedication and insight into the craft of writing have earned him a place as a great of modern literature.

The Cantos

Ezra Pound’s epic poem, ‘The Cantos,’ was first published in 1925. It was written between 1915 and 1962 and initially published by New Directions. This stand-alone unfinished long-form poem consists of over 120 sections and spans 47 years of Pound’s life, making it one of the longest poems in the English language.

Ezra Pound’s The Cantos is a long, incomplete poem composed of 116 sections, known as cantos. Written between 1915 and 1962, it is considered an intense and challenging read, one of the most significant works of modernist poetry. The text features Chinese characters, quotations in languages other than English, and wide geographical reference. It also has a broad range of allusions to historical events and abrupt transitions between topics.

The Pisan Cantos, written at the end of World War II, were awarded the first Bollingen Prize in 1948. It is a book-length work that requires a scholarly commentary to help understand it, offering a unique look at economics, governance, and culture.

A timeless classic, Ezra Pound’s The Cantos is an intense and challenging read. Widely considered one of the most significant works of modernist poetry, it combines Chinese characters, quotations in multiple languages, and references to global events into 116 sections known as cantos. With its masterful composition, it is a must-read for anyone looking for a captivating literary experience.

ABC of Reading

Ezra Pound’s unfinished long-form poem ‘ABC of Reading’ was published in 1934 by New Directions. This stand-alone work was one of Pound’s major publications, and was written with the intention of enlightening readers on the principles of aesthetic theory. It was composed of a collection of short essays on the principles of understanding literature, and was lauded for its insight and originality.

In 1934, Ezra Pound published an influential work outlining his aesthetic theory. The ABC of Reading features carefully chosen examples from classic works to illustrate Pound’s concepts, and the ‘Treatise on Meter’ provides further insight for aspiring poets. Pound’s ability to recognize neglected and unknown genius, differentiate between originals and imitations, and open up new literary paths is highlighted in this classic book. It remains an important source of inspiration for modern times.