Editor's Corner

Richard Ford, The Lay of the Land, a novel: In this triumphant follow-up to Independence Day, Frank Bascombe returns, acutely in thrall, as always, to life’s endless complexities. (Knopf)

Mary Gordon, The Stories of Mary Gordon, stories: These forty-one pieces, half of which are new or have never been collected, masterfully capture the nuances of modern life. (Pantheon)

Marilyn Hacker, Essays on Departure, poems: This book gathers twenty-five years of elegant, delectable work from eight books, as well as translations and new poems. (Carcanet)

Yusef Komunyakaa, Gilgamesh, verse play: With playwright Chad Garcia, Komunyakaa has refashioned a classic Sumerian legend into a vibrant and compelling verse play. (Wesleyan)

Maxine Kumin, Mites to Mastodons, children’s poems: A fascinating cornucopia of poems that exudes whimsical affection for all the creatures in our kingdom. Illustrated by Pamela Zagarenski. (Houghton Mifflin)

Paul Muldoon, Horse Latitudes, poems: This magnificent new collection presents us with fields of battle and fields of debate in which we often seem to be at a standstill. (FSG)

Gail Mazur, Zeppo’s First Wife, poems: This splendid collection of new and selected works draws on Mazur’s four previous books, showcasing her poetic achievements and wry meditations on the everyday. (Chicago)

Mark Strand, Man and Camel, poems: Strand’s remarkable eleventh collection is a toast to life’s transience, abiding beauty, and the meaning in the sound of language. (Knopf)

Robert Pinsky, The Life of David, nonfiction: Pinsky teases apart the many strands of David’s story in this vibrant  retelling, which includes a wealth of legend as well as scripture. (Schocken)