The Poetry of Nissim Ezekiel

Nissim Ezekiel is probably the most famous living Indian poet in English. Displaying a dedication of heroic dimensions to his vocation, he has created an oeuvre remarkable for its range and depth. He was responsible for spearheading the modernist revolution in Indian poetry in English. All but divorcing his wife, denying his family time and commitment, creating and fighting enemies, Ezekiel has served the muse indefatigably and evangelically, and at great personal cost, for he is as much activist for poetry as poet. He has published the work of others, edited journals, held offices in literary organizations, selected poetry for magazines, advised publishing houses and helped and guided generations of poets. Besides, Ezekiel has made significant contributions as playwright, prose writer, critic, translator and teacher. The Poetry of Nissim Ezekiel is a product of A. Raghu’s close familiarity with the work of the poet as well as his long interaction with the man. The book carries out a through thematic and stylistic analysis of the corpus of Ezekiel, seeking to effect a comprehensive assessment of the same. Efforts are made to foreground the corpus against the tradition of Indian poetry in English and to establish the work of Ezekiel as the main link between pre-independence Indian poetry in English and its post-independence counterpart. Ever willing to battle it out, Raghu takes on some of the biggest names in the contemporary literary world of India to craft a book which is provocatively brilliant. The Poetry of Nissim Ezekiel will remain the book on Ezekiel’s verse for a very long time to come.