Harold Bloom, who died at 89 this week, has naturally been the subject of many elegies and obituaries.
In 1998, Bloom kicked off a major controversy with his introduction to "The Best of the Best American Poetry, 1988-1997." Harold picked poems from nine of the first ten volumes in the BAP series, omitting Adrienne Rich's book (1996). This was by design, not accident. Bloom's vehement essay propounded his criteria for greatness and angrily denounced what he considered inferior work done under a multicultural umbrella. The reaction against him was swift and equal in vehemence. The controversy made a strong impression that lingers still, as Jason Guriel points out in Slate (October 17). Guriel's piece is entitled "Harold Bloom’s Best of the Best American Poetry Shows Him at His Most Aloof and His Most Electrifying." Read it here.
I hope to have my say on this extraordinary personage in the next few days. — DL