A review by kurtwombat
Reconstruction of the Poet: Uncollected Works of Zbigniew Herbert by Zbigniew Herbert

challenging dark funny fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? N/A
  • Strong character development? N/A
  • Loveable characters? N/A
  • Diverse cast of characters? N/A
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

3.0

 
Won this as a Goodreads giveaway prior to which I was unfamiliar with the works of Zbigniew Herbert. In a sense, I still feel like I’m unfamiliar with his work. Collections of previously uncollected works like this are often hit or miss and/or just for fans only. This may be why my eyes glazed over for much of this collection. Three “plays” open the book—two of which seem to be extended experimental skits but the third featuring Socrates I quite enjoyed. In fact, I enjoyed the Socrates play so much that when I struggled with much of the poetry that followed I was forced to assume it was because I was not putting in enough work as a reader. The poetry I didn’t care for was largely political allegory and/or making classical references beyond my grasp—these include some Mr. Cognito poems included (apparently his everyman stand in) that have their own language and sensibility and are just jarring amidst the other poems. I was nonplussed.  Perhaps had I read them with or after reading his MR COGNITO collection I could plug in better. What sustained me however were the more personal poems. There are some absolutely devastating poems about loss and recovery after WW II that escape the trappings of being experimental. Those poems sustained me. Almost startlingly good. I will look for a similarly themed collection. I won’t be revisiting this collection.