The Folding Cliffs A Narrative
The Folding Cliffs A Narrative by W. S. Merwin is a reprint edition published by Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group on March 28, 2000. This 352-page work presents a story in verse set in nineteenth-century Hawaii, focusing on a family’s struggle against government forces attempting to seize individuals suspected of leprosy. Through vivid language, Merwin captures the essence of Hawaiian life, history, and mythology, offering readers a glimpse into the cultural impacts of colonialism.
Readers will find a compelling narrative that intertwines themes of resilience and the clash of cultures. The poem explores the family’s flight into the wilds of Kauai, pursued by soldiers, while also reflecting on the broader implications of European and American incursions into Hawaiian society. This edition invites readers to engage with the rich tapestry of Hawaiian mythology and the somber realities of cultural disruption, all conveyed through Merwin’s masterful poetic style.
Official synopsis Publisher
From the Pulitzer Prize-winning author and “one of the greatest poets of our age … the Thoreau of our era” (Edward Hirsch) comes a thrilling story, in verse, of nineteenth-century Hawaii.
Here is the story of an attempt by the government to seize and constrain possible victims of leprosy and the determination of one small family not to be taken. A tale of the perils and glories of their flight into the wilds of the island of Kauai, pursued by a gunboat full of soldiers.
A brilliant capturing—inspired by the poet’s respect for the people of these islands—of their life, their history, the gods and goddesses of their mythic past. A somber revelation of the wrecking of their culture through the exploitative incursions of Europeans and Americans. An epic narrative that enthralls with the grandeur of its language and of its vision.
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