On August 2, Fitz Books in Buffalo hosted James McWilliams, author of The Life and Poetry of Frank Stanford, released last month from The University of Arkansas Press, and Leo Lensing, author of “Subiaco’s Unofficial Poet Laureate”: A Memoir of Frank Stanford in High School, released this month in a second, expanded edition from Foundlings Press.It was an honor for me to MC the event and conversation, and it was a special night for many reasons—not least because James assured me that his book tour will go no farther north than Buffalo. This is a “poetry town,” sure, but sometimes it can feel like we have a paltry, almost parochial idea of what that can mean. Yesterday’s discussion blew it wide open.James and Leo read from their extraordinary books, each a significant contribution to Frank Stanford scholarship. As we discussed, those contributions also force a broader reckoning with the accepted narratives and presumptive “schools” and lineages of 20th century American poetry.After about 30 minutes of reading we embarked on an hour of conversation (see approximate timestamps below). We discussed Stanford’s relationship with his literary contemporaries and the gravitational centers of poetry, from Fayetteville to NYC; the influences of Faulkner, Merton, Bushido, and the blues; the evolution of his relationship with the Lost Cause mythology and attitudes on race; his relationships with C.D. Wright, Ginny Crouch, Lucinda Williams, and other talented women; and his place in (or out of) the “canon” today. Check it out, and head to James’s website or Instagram for upcoming dates in other cities. Maybe you can catch him.And please buy the books! One lucky reader walked away with a rare unbound cover from the first edition of Stanford’s epic, The Battlefield Where The Moon Says I Love You. Want your own? They’re available here—while they last.Timestamps:00:02:30 - Leo Lensing reads from Subiaco’s Unofficial Poet Laureate00:19:37 - James McWilliams reads the prologue of The Life and Poetry of Frank Stanford00:33:40 - Conversation

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