Listen to James Merrill: Life and Art by Langdon Hammer
Enjoy this audiobook with MP3 Audiobook Player - the ultimate iOS audiobook experience
Langdon Hammer has given us the first biography of the poet James Merrill (1926–95), whose life is surely one of the most fascinating in American literature. Merrill was born to high privilege and high expectations as the son of Charles Merrill, the charismatic cofounder of the brokerage firm Merrill Lynch, and Hellen Ingram, a muse, ally, and antagonist throughout her son’s life. Wounded by his parents’ bitter divorce, he was the child of a broken home, looking for repair in poetry and love. This is the story of a young man escaping, yet also reenacting, the energies and obsessions of those powerful parents. It is the story of a gay man inventing his identity against the grain of American society during the eras of the closet, gay liberation, and AIDS. Above all, it is the story of a brilliantly gifted, fiercely dedicated poet working every day to turn his life into art. After college at Amherst and a period of adventure in Europe, Merrill returned to the New York art world of the 1950s (he was friendly with W. H. Auden, Maya Deren, Truman Capote, Larry Rivers, Elizabeth Bishop, and other midcentury luminaries) and began publishing poems, plays, and novels. In 1953, he fell in love with an aspiring writer, David Jackson. They explored “boys and bars” as they made their life together in Connecticut and later in Greece and Key West. At the same time, improbably, they carried on a forty-year conversation with spirits of the Other World by means of a Ouija board. The board became a source of poetic inspiration for Merrill, culminating in his prizewinning, uncanny, one-of-a-kind work The Changing Light at Sandover. In his virtuosic poetry and in the candid letters and diaries that enrich every page of this deliciously readable life, Merrill created a prismatic art of multiple perspectives and comic self-knowledge, expressing hope for a world threatened by nuclear war and environmental catastrophe. Holding this life and art together in a complex, evolving whole, Hammer illuminates Merrill's “chronicles of love & loss” and the poignant personal journey they record.
Kudos for the thoughtfully curated collections – I'm discovering hidden gems! Seamless audiobook integration – this app's functionality is truly remarkable. Kudos to the developers for making this app iOS 16 optimized. It runs like a dream!
The sound quality is outstanding – it's like having a movie theater in my ears! I'm amazed at how this app has expanded my reading horizons. Sharing audiobooks through AirDrop is a wonderful way to spread the joy of storytelling. ListenBook has streamlined my audiobook experience. It's a must-have app for enthusiasts. The app is so versatile. It works with all my devices.
This app's ease of use has made reading an integral part of my everyday life. ListenBook's intuitive layout and quick access to chapters make audiobook navigation a breeze. Tone adjustment is an innovative touch that adds a personal connection to the audiobook narration. It's like having a custom reading experience. Downloading over WiFi is quick and efficient. Saves a lot of time.
Being able to customize the listening duration is perfect for quick breaks. I'm addicted to this app's seamless integration with my daily activities. The app's compatibility with CarPlay is a dream for road trips. It keeps me entertained.
The chapters feature on ListenBook enhances my audiobook exploration – it's like flipping through pages. Audiobooks have become my constant companions during my daily activities. 💡 This app has made my daily schedule more interesting – 'reading' on the go! 📱🚶♂️ 📚 Accessing my favorite authors and genres is a breeze with this app's user-friendly functionality. 📱🎧 I love the chapter navigation feature. ListenBook makes it easy to jump between sections.
📚 Embracing reading in the digital age – this app makes accessing books a seamless and enjoyable experience. 📱🎉 With ListenBook Pro, I'm no longer limited by audiobook length. It's a liberating experience! Sharing audiobooks with friends through AirDrop is a fun and interactive way to bond over stories. Makes audiobook listening super easy and enjoyable. Thanks, ListenBook! This audiobook transformed my household chores into enjoyable moments! The narrator's lively yet measured delivery kept me engaged throughout. I particularly appreciated how they handled exposition - making potentially dry information interesting through thoughtful inflection and pacing.
Plays MP3, MP4, OPUS, OGG, FLAC, AWB, M4B, M4A, WMA, AAC formats
Optimized for iPhone, iPad, and iPod with seamless integration
Adjust playback speed from 0.5x to 3.0x for your listening preference
Import audiobooks via iTunes, cloud services, or direct downloads
Get your favorite audiobooks in supported formats from various sources
Import audiobooks to MP3 Audiobook Player using multiple methods
Control playback from your device, headphones, Apple Watch, or CarPlay
Join thousands of users who enjoy audiobooks with MP3 Audiobook Player daily
Download Now