Carolyn Forché CD

1994/1978. Introduced by Cyrus Cassells (1994) and Lauren Shakely (1978).

This recording captures two readings, one from Forché's acclaimed The Country Between Us, the other from The Angel of History, of which James Merrill said, "I don't think I have ever come across a poem of such length which is nevertheless so beautifully transparent and haunting."

Library Journal notes that "hearing this recording proves that, all else being equal, poems exist in a reading as much as they do on the page... their power is unmistakable, we don't want to miss a word...."

Length: 63 min.

Track List:

25 October 1995
1. Introduction by Cyrus Cassells
2. Introduction to "The Angel of History"
3. [There are times when the child seems delicate...]
4. [In the night vaulted corridors of the Hotel-Dieu]
5. [This is Izieu during the war...]
6. [In the night-vaulted corridors of the Hotel-Dieu it is winter]
7. [We lived in St. Monique ward...]
8. [We must wear our slippers and not smoke.]
9. [Then my husband came with our child in his arms...]
10. [In April, the lilacs come, wrapped in Le Monde.]
11. [We held roses, then the roses rested on the snow]
12. [Introduction to "The Notebook of Uprising"
13. I
14. II
15. III
16. IV
17. V
18. Introduction to "The Recording Angel"
19. I
20. II
21. Elegy
22. The Garden Shukkei-en
23. "The Angel Handed me a Book..." (by Paul Valéry)

7 December 1978 24. Introduction to Lauren Shakely
25. Introduction to "Reunion"
26. Reunion
27. For the Stranger
28. Introduction to "The Memory of Elena"
29. The Memory of Elena
30. Introduction to "The Island"
31. The Island
32. Introduction to "San Onofre, California"
33. San Onofre, California
34. Untitled, "for Francisco, the Visitor"
35. [We were there...]
36. Introduction to "Endurance"
37. Endurance
38. Photograph of my Room
39. Introduction to "Letter from Prague"
40. Letter from Prague
41. Departure
42. Introduction to "Plain Song"
43. Plain Song