Maps

76 pages, trade paperback format Advance Readers' Copy '"John [Freeman] delights in and is thoroughly devoted to writing and to books. He is my kind of person."Louise Erdrich In his travels, whenever John Freeman arrives at a new place, the first thing he does is look for a barbershop and gets a haircut. This simple ritual draws him closer to the world and the community he's entering. In his first book of poetry, Freeman, best known as editor of Freeman's Journal, maps the present by way of the past, drawing upon memories of childhood, family, and former loves. Simultaneously international and intimately domestic,Maps is nostalgic with a cool head, and able to examine the world with insightful compassion and grace. From "Legend": A soul is not a diamond pressed down into something hard like rock, but rather, the word my father's father said to himself on those too-cold California nights when all he could see was the work ahead of him, the dead behind her name He'd say her name. John Freeman is an American writer and literary critic. A graduate of Swarthmore College, he has served as editor of the literary magazine Granta and president of the National Book Critics Circle. His writing has appeared in nearly 200 English-language publications around the world. He lives in New York City., As a literary advocate, John Freeman is passionate, clear, analytical, and authoritative. In his first book of poetry, he maps the present by way of the past, drawing upon memories of childhood, family, and former loves. Simultaneously world-wide and intimately domestic, Maps is nostalgic with a cool head, and able to examine a younger time with insightful compassion and grace.' jc11-17