PVLD Adult Services Blog

Nobel Prize in Literature

Poet Tomas Tranströmer of Sweden was announced today as recipient of the 2011 Nobel Prize in Literature.  The Swedish Academy awarded Tranströmer the prize “because, through his condensed, translucent images, he gives us fresh access to reality.”  This year marks the first time since 1996 that the award has gone to poetry. Tranströmer’s work is [...]

Poet Laureate

The Librarian of Congress yesterday announced Philip Levine as U.S. Poet Laureate for 2011-2012.  Levine is the author of 20 poetry collections (as well as nonfiction), and among other honors, has been awarded the Pulitzer Prize, the National Book Award, and the National Book Critics Circle Award. Librarian of Congress James Billington describes Levine is [...]

W. S. Merwin, Poet Laureate

Librarian of Congress James Billington yesterday announced the appointment of W.S. Merwin as the 17th Poet Laureate of the United States.  In a career spanning six decades, Merwin has published more than 30 books of poetry and prose. In a statement announcing the appointment, Billington cited Merwin’s profound yet accessible poetry: “He leads us upstream [...]