The most intelligent and learned biography to date of one of the twentieth century's most divisive and influential writers. * John Bolin, Notes & Queries 55.4 *
Moody's achievement is to take us back to the poems themselves where, we now clearly see, the real drama, intellectual and emotional, was taking place. * Peter Nicolls, Modernism/Modernity 15.3 *
Moody's first volume is absolutely luminous. I'm tempted to say that this, folks, is biography as it ought to be written. * Mark Scroggins, Culture Industry *
Suceeds, often brilliantly - providing thoughtful insights into everything from the derivative mysticism...to the artful translation * Samuel Hughes, Pennsylvania Gazette *
A skilled and patient tracker who not only finds the choicest details but does a masterful job of putting them in context * Samuel Hughes, Pennsylvania Gazette *
A Monumental biography...a first-of-its-kind of Poet Ezra Pound. * Denise J. Stankovics, Library Journal *
An erudite jurist who takes all the evidence into account. * Samuel Hughes, Pennsylvania Gazette. *
A carefully researched and documented study; recommended for academic libraries. * Denise J. Stankovics, Library Journal *
The most detailed portrayal of Pound's life to date...the fullest, most intelligent, biography of Pound. * Rebecca Beasley, Review of English Studies *
The imposing first volume of A. David Moody's biography of Exra Pound [is a] dense and clever and generally sympathetic study. * Christopher Hitchens, The Atlantic *
Gripping volume. * Geordie Williamson, The Australian *
Fine biography * Richard King, Australian literary Review *
David Moody's splendidly researched and well-written book is greatly needed. * Tim Redman, Dallas Morning News *
Moody must now be considered among the best readers of modernist poetry...If you wish to understand why Pound is so important, Mr Moody is the indispensable guide. * Tim Redman, Dallas Morning News *
This is a long, slow book, but as the detail accumulates one's respect for it deepens. * Frank Kermode, New York Review of Books. *
The enterprise as a whole is immensely impressive. * Stephen Wilson, Dublin Review of Books 4 *
Moody writes with lucid charm. * Tom D'Evelyn, The Providence Journal Books *
Patient, intelligent, and prudently sympathetic. * Louis Menand, The New Yorker *
Elegant but unaffected prose...admirable biography. * Jonathan Gharraie, The Oxonian Review of Books VII.2 *
Brilliant first volume. * Steven Schwartz, The Weekly Standard *
Moody's life of Pound is a triumph. * Charles Lock, The Powys Journal, Vol. XVIII *
Less a biography than a semester-long course in Pound taught by the smart and sympathetic Professor Emeritus A.David Moody/ * Bob Blaidell, American books Review 29.6 *
It is safe to say that this biography is to be considered required reading for Pound Scholars. * Trevor Sawler, Nashwaak Review 20-21 *
Mr Moody's decision to treat both life and work is admirable. * William H. Pritchard, Washington Times *
Pound's poetry is difficult, but as Moody demonstrates in the biography, it is worth the effort. * Trevor Sawler, Nashwaak Review 20-21. *
In sorting out all Pound's contradictions and complexities, Moody...is invaluable. he knows more about Pound's poetry then probably anyone else alive. * Charles McGrath, New York Times Book Review *
Invaluable to the non-specialist. * Alan Halsey, Stride Magazine *
Moody's greatest feat here is to write plainly and open doors to poetry that is beautiful, musical and harmonic as it is inscrutable to readers no versed in the traditions and historical allusions Pound referenced by the dozen. * Matt King, Santa Cruze Sentinel *
Moody shows a masterful command of Pound's work and its progression, from 'A Lume Spento' in 1908 to 'Hugh Selwyn Mauberley' in 1920...Overall he treats his subject and the facts with great respect and precision...His mastery of his subject is impressive, and Pound's lide story does not fail to fascinate. * Mary Dixie Carter, Philadelphia Enquirer *
Once Pound sails into the enigmatic, strangely beautiful seas of his mature work, Moody confidently peels away layer after exquisite layer of irony. * Jamie James, Los Angeles Times *
He marshals Pound's staggering output of poetry, prose and correspondence to excellent effect, and offers clear, perceptive commentary on it. * The Economist. *
The first volume of this grand opus is a significant event. * Andrew Motion, Guardian *
In this dense and fastidious critical biography, A. David Moody ... brings both scholarship and good humour to the task. * Sam Leith, Spectator *
A splendid volume of the first part of Pound's life. * Margaret Speak, Telegraph *
A definitive new biography. * Bryce Christensen, Booklist *
This serious, serching biography. * Michael Kerrigan, The Scotsman *
The story of Pound's early years is riveting, and well told by David Moody. * Mark Ford, Financial Times *
An authoritative and discriminating account, built on thoroughgoing research. * Michael Alexander, The Tablet *
First-rate academic biography. by a biographer who does understand the poetry...the young genius has at last found a biographer who is up to the job. * Michael Alexander, The Tablet *
Biographers are not usually literary critics, Moody is a good one, and his comments on the poetry are reliable and illuminating. * Michael Alexander, The Tablet. *
This exemplary biography illuminates and exposes him with his warts and contradicitons intact. * Andrew Biswell, Times Higher Education Supplement *
Review
Moody's fine biography...makes young Ezra newly impressive and newly appealing. * Kevin Jackson, The Sunday Times *
In Moody's wonderful first instalment of the Pound story...it is the poetry that takes centre stage. * Jonathan Wright, The Herald *
Countless incisive readings of his early output provide revelatory glimpses of Pound's struggle to find his authenitic voice. * Jonathan Wright, The Herald *
A very satisfying biography. * Jonathan Wright, The Herald *
Makes the young poet newly impressive and appealing. * Sunday Times *
David Moody's life of Ezra Pound is, at last, the ambitious, energetic biography the poet deserves. * Andrew Motion, Sunday Times *
The story of Pound's early years is riveting, and well told by David Moody. * Mark Ford, Financial Times Magazine *
The first volume of this grand opus is a significant event. * Andrew Motion, Guardian Book of the Week *
Professor David Moody...here portrays the first half of this astonishing poet's astonishing life. It is an authoritative and discriminating account, built on thoroughgoing research. * Michael Alexander, The Tablet *
Moody's fine biography... makes the young Ezra Pound newly impressive and newly appealing. * Kevin Jackson, Sunday Times *
[Moody] marshals Pound's staggering output of poetry, prose and correspondence to excellent effect, and offers clear, perceptive commentary on it. * The Economist *
Moody communicates the central truth of this odd, driven life: that Pound lived for poetry, and lived his life according to what he saw as its demands. * Peter McDonald, Literary Review *
This exemplary biography illuminates and exposes [Pound] with his warts and contradictions intact. * Andrew Biswell, THES *
a splendid volume * Yorkshire Post *
A serious searching biography. * The Scotsman *
wonderful first instalment of the Pound story... a very satisfying biography. * Jonathan Wright, The Herald (Glasgow) *
Any biographer of Ezra Pound needs a clear head, a cool dispassionate style, and first-rate literary-critical powers ... David Moody has all three. * Paul Dean, The New Criterion *
After this brilliant opening instalment, David Moody's treatment of the sequal cannot come too soon. * Paul Dean, The New Criterion. *
Moody's detailed narrative...tries to recapture the excitingness and literary brilliance of the colourful young troubadour * Stefan Collini, TLS *