Operation Memory
(amazon)David Lehman (View Bio)
Hardcover: Princeton University Press, 1990.
Visit the book's website at www.amazon.com/Operation-Memory-Princeton-Series-Contemporary/dp/0691014825.
"Elevating observation to the level of action is central to the work of Mr. Lehman – poet, critic, and editor of the Best American Poetry series. . . . Mr. Lehman’s concerns are not only moral and aesthetic. His belief that poetry creates truths is also rooted in a theological vision – in the poet’s words, 'a religious corollary'. . . . Virtually every poem in OPERATION MEMORY resonates with depth. . . .David Lehman operates through memory to create a language of exceptional poetry that measures our time." — Lawrence Joseph, The Forward
"This is a book of stunning insights and warnings – wise, oftentimes funny, always moving. With remarkable aphoristic precision and economy of perception, a gorgeous controlled music, a wry self-deprecating intelligence and a terrifyingly clear-eyed capacity for self-scrutiny, Lehman describes us to ourselves as if himself helplessly the victim of the truth-serum in the beautiful, stark poem 'The Survivors.'" — Jorie Graham
"In his aptly titled OPERATION MEMORY, David Lehman explores his life and our times with enchanting nimbleness and cogent, often melancholy insight. The witty poignancy of his pains and puns haunts our own memory like the lovely music of a dream that we know is lost to us forever." — Harry Mathews
". . .a wholly fresh poetry in which the deadpan reportage of Raymond Chandler ('Day breaks like a bloodshot eye') soul-kisses the insouciance of Frank O’Hara. OPERATION MEMORY adroitly splices epic to lyric, tragedy to comedy, detective story to fairy tale. . . ." — Alice Fulton, Washington Post Book World
"OPERATION MEMORY is a good example of how our transatlantic cousins do things differently. [Lehman] employs relaxed rhythms, a correspondingly laid back tone and predominantly internal rhyme; his subject matter is mostly autobiographical but with enough of the surreal to evoke considerable menace from archetypal ad stereotypical images . . . . This is Ashbery with a conscience." — Robert Potts, The Literary Review
