The Adventures of Form and Content: Essays

Poet and essayist Albert Goldbarth has reverted to the dual format used by the science-fiction publishers in the 1950s, in which they attracted buyers by printing two books in one volume, one tome juxtaposed to the other. Each side of the coupled book had its own title, sort of like Siamese twins. This contrasting coupling reflects somewhat the duality of our character and makeup. His prose is is somewhat ephemeral, his wording is crisp, and his images poetic as he contrasts love versus lust, records fond memories of past friends, wickedly chuckles at the hip poets of the sixties, and examines fouled-up romances. He dances and prances with ideas and portrayals of mere mortals such that the reader must strain to keep the picture in mind. Topics jump from illness and well-being to prehistoric cave art, planetary explorations, friendships, Latin poetry, and more. The author is noted for introducing new styles and approaches to essay expression. With this series of selections the reader is introduced to an accomplished writer’s awareness and practice of painting form and content in essays.