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April 12, 2001 + THIS WEEK ... "However much we think of poetry as a disciplined scatter of words on white, or the proud aestheticism of the thin volume," Sven Birkerts writes in Atlantic Unbound this week, "it remains, at root, historically and performatively, a pneumatic event. Pneumatic, from the Greek root pneuma, relating to wind or air, but inescapably carrying overtones of 'spirit' and 'soul.'" Poetry has been the soul of Atlantic Unbound from the start. In fact, the very first Web-only feature produced for The Atlantic's site, coinciding with its official launch on November 1, 1995, included recordings of Robert Pinsky reading excerpts from his acclaimed translation of Dante's *Inferno*, the sound of his voice streaming over the Internet in RealAudio 1.0, or downloaded in 8-bit .AU files. (See http://www.theatlantic.com/unbound/aandc/dante/danthome.htm -- and don't worry, the audio quality has since been upgraded.) Five months later, on April 1, 1996, we launched the Poetry Pages (http://www.theatlantic.com/poetry/). Featured that month were Peter Davison's introduction and readings of Robert Frost's poems from the August, 1915, Atlantic, along with readings by Rodney Jones and Stephen Sandy of their poems appearing in the April issue, inaugurating our ever-growing Audible Anthology of Atlantic poems read aloud by the authors. (The anthology now contains more than 200 recordings by 81 poets. See http://www.theatlantic.com/unbound/poetry/antholog/aaindx.htm) This month, to mark the fifth anniversary of the Poetry Pages, we're presenting three text-and-audio features: Frank Bidart, Peter Davison, and Robert Pinsky read Robert Lowell's poem "For the Union Dead" (originally published in The Atlantic for November 1960), with an introduction by Davison; Christopher Ricks reads and comments on T. S. Eliot's "The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock"; and Sven Birkerts reviews newly released recordings of Randall Jarrell, one of the twentieth century's great poet-critics, reading his own poems (you can hear Jarrell reading "The Death of the Ball Turret Gunner" and "The Woman at the Washington Zoo"). Read, listen, and enjoy. Cheers, Wen Stephenson * A post-script to our longtime TransAtlantic readers: This is my last collection of Web-only features commissioned and edited as editorial director of The Atlantic Online, though I'm happy to say that they are not the last poetry features I will edit for the site. (I'm leaving the staff of The Atlantic next month, but I will continue to edit the site's Poetry Pages.) I am profoundly grateful for having had the opportunity to work on The Atlantic's online edition for what is almost seven years now. And I am grateful most of all to my Atlantic colleagues, past and present; to the many writers who have lent their words and their voices to our cause; and to you our readers, who have lent your eyes and ears. Best wishes to all. -WS + In ATLANTIC UNBOUND, The Atlantic's online journal ... Poetry Pages | Special Fifth-Anniversary Features Editor's Note POETRY AND THE WEB by Wen Stephenson Apr 11 | A personal view, five years later. http://www.theatlantic.com/unbound/poetry/ednote2001-04.htm Soundings ROBERT LOWELL'S "FOR THE UNION DEAD" with Frank Bidart, Peter Davison, and Robert Pinsky Apr 11 | "Four decades later," Peter Davison writes, "it still 'sticks like a fishbone/ in the city's throat.'" Frank Bidart and Robert Pinsky join Davison in reading Lowell's masterpiece aloud. http://www.theatlantic.com/unbound/poetry/soundings/lowell.htm Appreciations "PRUFROCK, J. ALFRED PRUFROCK" by Christopher Ricks Apr 11 | Observations on T. S. Eliot's "love song " -- and its unlikely leading man. http://www.theatlantic.com/unbound/poetry/prufrock.htm Review THE VOICE OF THE POET-CRITIC by Sven Birkerts Apr 11 | In the latest installment of the "Voice of the Poet" series -- with recordings of Gertrude Stein, John Ashbery, and others -- the unexpected star is Randall Jarrell, a poet who was known to write some criticism. http://www.theatlantic.com/unbound/poetry/jarrell.htm ------------------------------------------------------- + In D.C. DISPATCH | from National Journal Social Studies EARTH TO NEW YORK TIMES -- YOU CALL THIS REFORM? by Jonathan Rauch Apr 11 | Real 'fake reform' only prolongs the death throes of the unsalvageable campaign finance system. http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/nj/rauch2001-04-11.htm Legal Affairs PAYING REPARATIONS FOR ANCIENT WRONGS IS NOT RIGHT by Stuart Taylor Jr. Apr 11 | When we seek to punish corporations, we actually punish ourselves, because we're the ones who end up paying. http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/nj/taylor2001-04-11.htm Media THE TOUCH OF EVIL by William Powers Apr 11 | What has made the pressies so taken with the notion of exorcizing the evil greenback from American politics? http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/nj/powers2001-04-11.htm Political Pulse WHITE MEN CAN JUMP by William Schneider Apr 11 | Bush's support among white men could plummet if they think he's mismanaging the economy. http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/nj/schneider2001-04-11.htm ------------------------------------------------------- + In POST & RIPOSTE | Forum Highlights "Spy Plane Repercussions" What really happened in the airspace over the South China Sea? How will the incident affect U.S.-China relations and regional stability? http://forum.theatlantic.com/WebX?.ee6fab4 "The Art of Comics" Can comics be considered serious literature? Join a discussion on Peter Swanson's Atlantic Unbound essay, "Maus Culture." http://forum.theatlantic.com/WebX?.ee6fa7c "The Next Ruling Class?" What makes today's students tick? And how did they get this way? Has David Brooks drawn an accurate portrait of the meritocracy's next generation? Join us for a special forum on the April cover story. http://forum.theatlantic.com/WebX?.ee6f6b3 ... and much more. http://www.theatlantic.com/pr/ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ THE ATLANTIC MONTHLY EDUCATION PROGRAM Teachers, put The Atlantic's quality to work in your classroom withour new Education Program. Affordable rates, FREE Teacher's Guide, and FREE instructor's copy with each qualifying order. Please visit http://www.theatlantic.com/teach/ for details or call toll-free,(877) 299-8577. ------------------------------------------------------- GET A RISK-FREE TRIAL ISSUE OF THE ATLANTIC MONTHLY TransAtlantic readers, you can receive a RISK-FREE trial issue of The Atlantic Monthly magazine. Just fill in the short form at http://www.theatlantic.com/free/ and we'll rush our next issue to you. No obligation. ------------------------------------------------------- To remove your name from our mailing list, send an e-mail to listserv@theatlantic.com with UNSUBSCRIBE TRANSATL written in the BODY of the message (subject text will be ignored), or go to the TransAtlantic page at the URL below, enter your e-mail address and select "Unsubscribe." http://www.theatlantic.com/transatlantic/ If you would like help or more information, send a message to listserv@theatlantic.com with the word HELP in the BODY of the e-mail.
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