James Laughlin Quotes

James Laughlin — American Poet born on October 30, 1914, died on November 12, 1997

James Laughlin was an American poet and literary book publisher who founded New Directions Publishing... (wikipedia)

I think that concrete poetry seems to have, as far as I can see, come to a kind of a dead end. It doesn't seem to be going any further than it went in its high period of about five or six years ago.

I do read everything that we publish. We usually have to have two or three votes for a book before we take it on. So in that sense I suppose it is an orchestra.

I think that is where poetry reading becomes such an individual thing. I mean I have friend who like poets who just don't say anything to me at all, I mean they seem to me rather ordinary and pedestrian.

I think one ages and one dates. I tend to have a good deal of difficulty in liking some of the new poets.

We see them when they come to New York. They stay at my wife's apartment. We have quite a correspondence with them at all times. They play a very important role, the authors in the firm, because so much of the material we publish is suggested by them.

James Laughlin Quotes

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