Traffic in Asian Women by Laura Hyun Yi Kang (review)

Abstract

of ‘The Far Field,’” for example, Quechenbach concludes that “Roethke’s ecological mysticism emphasizes horizontal movement across liminal zones where matter and spirit intersect and communicate... the convergence of worlds, and a traveler could cross between environments... Nature abides in immediate particulars integrated into a holistic, enduring net of relationships” (259). These are quintessentially ecological insights. This Field Guide, the first book on Roethke in more than twenty years, will appeal to readers from a variety of interlocking disciplines, including scholars and students of American literature as well as twentieth-century poetry more generally. With its emphasis on close reading and formal analysis, it might also be of use to practicing as well as aspiring poets. Similarly, since chapters are written in a highly accessible style, the book is of value to students of creative writing, especially at the graduate level. Taken together, these essays provide a synthesis of previous generations of criticism, while a number of contributors adopt forward-looking critical approaches such as ecocriticism. As such, it represents a unique contribution to Roethke studies: a comprehensive analysis of his craft, a careful examination of his poetics, and a timely reassessment of his literary legacy and relevance.