The Last Happy Occasion

This collection of essays by poet Alan Shapiro is part memoir, part literary criticism. Each piece uses a poem--usually one by a 20th-century poet such as Philip Larkin or Elizabeth Bishop--to address some vital aspect of the human condition. Illustrated by examples from his own experiences, he reflects on life's rites of passage--his childhood struggle with religion, the birth of his son, and the death of his sister. Shapiro's essays go beyond mere musing as he employs his critical skills to dissect the thoughts and feelings already packed into the poetry he includes.