Synopses & Reviews
Review
"The Star-Apple Kingdom contains ten poems. They are all good, but 'The Schooner Flight,' 'The Saddhu of Couva,' 'Forest of Europe' (which is dedicated to Joseph Brodsky), and the title poem, 'The Star-Apple Kingdom' are the best. There is a sense of a dedication and a celebration throughout the book. The poet says: 'I am satisfied/if my hand gave voice to one people's grief.' He has achieved this. Walcott's use of the simile gives a star-apple sparkle to his poetry. His similes are fascinating, and they startle: 'She was as beautiful as a stone in the sunrise, /her voice had the gutturals of machine guns.' One aspect of this work is that the poet is consciously aware that he is writing poetry. While he handles it well, it leaves the reader unsure of his purpose." Reviewed by Daniel Weiss, Virginia Quarterly Review (Copyright 2006 Virginia Quarterly Review)