The Life and Poetry of Ted Kooser

"Stillwell shows us that that effect of Kooser's poems is the result of a prosody as carefully cultivated as that of any fine poet. As she unfolds the events of Kooser's ordinary life, she examines each of his collections and his few, short prose books to disclose the large aim of his writing, which is to demonstrate and affirm the interconnectedness of people and their natural contexts."—Ray Olson, Booklist

"A fine, authoritative first biography of the former U.S. Poet Laureate."—Tom Lavoie, Shelf Awareness

"[The Life and Poetry of Ted Kooser] is more than just a biography. It offers a window into much of Kooser's life and highlights his writing throughout."—Jill Martin, Seward County Independent

"The Life and Poetry of Ted Kooser is an invaluable resource and entertaining work for poetry lovers of all kinds."—Travis Amundson, Nebraska Life

 

"Stillwell has accomplished a nice piece of very readable scholarship."—Nancy S. Gillis, Nebraska History

"Working far outside the dominant literary establishment—both geographically and in terms of current fads—Kooser modestly yet powerfully turns us toward the mystery, heartache, and beauty at the heart of ordinary life. Stillwell’s excellent study helps us to understand how and why he does this."—Scott Kinckerbocker, Western American Literature