„This book will be a game-changer for the study of modern American poetry. It argues for the first time that there is a century-long progressive tradition of poetic efforts to create an American voice and subject position that is fundamentally international in its scope and political/aesthetic positioning. Because its historical reach is so wide and its thesis so timely, it deserves a wide audience.“ - Cary Nelson, Emeritus Professor of English, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, USA

"Dealing with widely- and under-read poets in the age of liberalism and neoliberalism, this impressive study is an essential addition to the history of poetic 'tradition.' Following (and complicating) such formations of 'tradition' as the avant-garde (Perloff), 'opposing poetries' (Lazer), and marginalization (Moten, DuPlessis), Spahr has brilliantly excavated our tradition of politically committed poetry. No tradition could feel more necessary now." - Jennifer Ashton, Associate Professor of English, University of Illinois at Chicago, USA