Literary Nonfiction. Poetics. "Barry Schwabsky carries a torch for outriders. Through an eclectic landscape of European literary modernists and contemporary 'heretics' in their tradition, he guides us with companionable verve. Schwabsky's wit--along with sharp analysis, erudite contextualizations, and refreshingly honest, self-interrogating approach--make this trip from Mallarme to Hell (Richard) provocative and fun." --Catherine Wagner