Spoon River Anthology by Edgar Lee Masters
"Spoon River Anthology" is a collection of short free-form poems that tell the epitaphs of the residents of a fictional small town, Spoon River, which is modeled after the small towns of the author's youth. The poems reveal the honest, often harsh realities of life, as each deceased citizen tells their own tale of love, despair, success, failure, and the human condition. The book is a commentary on the hypocrisy, moral corruption, and societal constraints of early 20th century rural America.
The 1723rd greatest book of all time
If you're interested in seeing the ranking details on this book go here
This book is on the following lists:
- Masterpieces of World Literature (Frank N. Magill)
- Harold Bloom's The Western Canon (The Western Canon (Book) by Harold Bloom)
- One Hundred Best Books (1916) (John Cowper Powys)