On monday, april, literary witnesses celebrated the publication of robert blys latest collection of poems, like the new moon i will live my life, with a reading by robert bly and many friends. Robert bly writes that it is clear to men that the images of adult manhood given by popular culture are worn out, that a man can no longer depend on them. Smith, joyce sutphen, mark dewey, roger sheffer, carol barrett, ed higgins and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Iron john searches for a new vision of what a man is or could be, drawing on psychology, anthropology, mythology, folklore and legend. The 25th anniversary edition of the groundbreaking new york times bestseller. Iron john even though the wild man as a masculine archetype has largely disappeared from western culture, we do not have to go back too far in our history to find traces of it. Drawing upon jungian psychology, myth, legend, folklore, and fairy tales the title is taken. In iron john, bly presents the vision of manhood and its discontents that he has tested in a decade of such gatherings. Finding rich meaning in ancient stories and legends, bly uses the grimm fairy tale iron john, in which the narrator, or wild man, guides a young man through. Robert bly, renowned poet and author of the groundbreaking bestseller iron john, mingles essay and verse to explore the shadow the dark side of the human personality and the importance of confronting it.
An exegesis of iron john, a parable about a boy maturing into adulthood with help of the wild man, and part of the grimms fairy tales published in 1812 by german folklorists brothers grimm, it spent 62 weeks on the new york times best seller list and went on to become a pioneering work in the mythopoetic mens movement. A book about men made him internationally famous, long before he was taken up as the popular bard of the new age movement. Bly and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Mar 15, 2016 robert bly iron john story men and the wound. I dont have a strong opinion one way or another about the seven aspects of manhood he presentsi cant confirm or deny them. Women read iron john openly, hoping to glean some insider information while men read the book furtivelyat least at f. Over time bleje became blye in illinois, soon wearing away to bly, becommg indistinguishable from the english irish nominative form, as in captain bly. The blueroad reader blueroad readers by robert bly, freya manfred, john calvin rezmerski, bill holm, ron gower, nancy paddock, richard robbins, candace black, joseph hutchison, thomas r. On monday, april, literary witnesses celebrated the publication of robert bly s latest collection of poems, like the new moon i will live my life, with a reading by robert bly and many friends. In his book, iron john, robert bly incorporates symbols to intensify his message to the readers. A fresh and intense language and logos for describing the unrevealed. A book about men 1990, which spent 62 weeks on the new york times best seller list, and is a key text of the mythopoetic mens movement. Bly uses the grimm fairy tale iron johnin which a mentor or wild man guides a young man through eight stages of male growthto remind us of ways of knowing long forgotten, images of deep and vigorous masculinity centered in.
Iron john 1990 robert bly robert bly is a wellrespected american poet. At once downtoearth and elevated, combining the grandeur of myth with the practical and often painful lessons of our own histories, iron john is an astonishing work that will. The 25th anniversary edition of the groundbreaking new york times bestseller, with a new afterword by the authorwhich offers a new vision of what it is to be a manin this timeless and deeply learned classic, poet and translator robert bly offers nothing less than a new vision of what it means to be a man. Bly, roberts father, was born in illinois, probably in 1901 but no later than 1905. A couple good friends recommended iron john by robert bly to me, and i recently finished it. Find all the books, read about the author, and more. Robert elwood bly is an american poet, author, activist and leader of the mythopoetic mens movement. Women read iron john openly, hoping to glean some insider information while men read the book furtivelyat least at first. Robert bly iron john story men and the wound youtube. But isnt this book a constructive way to digest those years and mans identity in general. Free shipping and pickup in store on eligible orders. Robert bly, american poet, translator, editor, and author, perhaps best known to the public at large as the author of iron john.
Young men need initiation into adulthood, to be welcomed among the fathers of the world, or they rage and sulk alone through life. Robert bly looks at the importance of the wild man reminiscent of the wild woman in women who run with the wolves, who. The book for further reading is by clarissa pinkola estes women who run with the wolves a brilliant bedside bible, full of stages of growth to pick yours from. Robert bly writes that it is clear to men that the images of adult manhood. Nov 10, 2015 obviously, in the story of iron john bly sees a metaphor of the cage where iron john is imprisoned as similar to the way parents and institutions imprison our natural passions and pacify each of us by holding our internal desires as objects of derision and scorn that must be subdued. It is a wonderfully written, and very poignant tome about the critical journey that all men must become aware of if they are to be successful in their world. This book draws on a whole community of men, many of whom worked in this field long before i entered it. Robert bly is an american poet, essayist, activist, and leader of the mythopoetic mens movement. A book about men 1990, a response to the womens movement, bly has been immensely popular, appearing on talk shows and advising men to retrieve their primitive masculinity through wildness. A book about men, edition 3 ebook written by robert bly. A book about men 1990, which spent 62 weeks on the the new york times best seller list.
Robert was there the first time i went to a mens gathering, organised under the auspices of wild dance. The iron john story proposes that the golden ball lies within the magnetic field of the. It says that where a mans wound is, that is where his genius will be. Yes, bly wrote iron john after his 24year marriage to award winning essayist carol bly ended 1979 in divorce. Here, using the grimm fairy tale iron john as a vehicle, bly explores the myths and cultural underpinnings of. A penetrating and brilliant little volume that sheds new light on the shadow. We are living at an important and fruitful moment now, for it is dear to men that the images of adult manhood given by the popular culture are worn out. Bly uses the grimm fairy tale iron johnin which a mentor or wild man guides a young man through eight stages of male growthto remind us of ways of knowing long forgotten, images of deep and vigorous masculinity centered in feeling and protective of the young. Bly s vision is based on his ongoing work with men and reflections on his own life. Publication date 1990 topics men, masculinity, men publisher new york. Iron john was first published in 1990 and was a bestseller, a cultural phenomena. Essays and criticism on robert bly bly, robert vol. It was a dense, interesting book examining modern masculinity and what men and women can learn about manhood from myths and stories of cultures around the world. Robert bly is a poet, author, translator, activist, and leader of the mythopoetic mens movement.
In this deeply learned book, poet and translator robert bly offers nothing less than a new vision of what it is to be a man. Y a mi editor, william patrick, por su entusiasmo y consejo. The event was held at the plymouth congregational church, 1900 nicollet ave. A book about men and millions of other books are available for amazon kindle. Robert bly iron john story men and the wound alaska systems. Like in ordinary life, a mentor can guide a young man through various disciplines, helping to bring him out of boyhood into manhood.
An exegesis of iron john, a parable about a boy maturing into adulthood with help of the wild man, and part of the grimms fairy tales published in 1812 by german folklorists brothers grimm, it spent 62 weeks on the new york times best seller list and went on to. Robert bly looks at the importance of the wild man reminiscent of the wild woman in women who run with the wolves, who he compares to a zen priest, a shaman or a woodman. The classic story being used by mens groups today is from grimms fairy tales. In this timeless and deeply learned classic, poet and translator robert bly offers nothing less than a new vision of what it means to be a man. Blys vision is based on his ongoing work with men, as well as on reflections on his. He won the 1968 national book award for poetry for his book the light around the body. The book uses a fairy tale from the brothers grimm to outline the parts of what bly believes make a whole and wholesome man. Bly has received many awards, including the national book award, for his poetry. A book about men 1990, reprinted 2001 as iron john. Bly had been giving talks on mythology to supplement his income, and found that the brothers grimm tale iron john hit a nerve with men. Robert bly born december 23, 1926 is an american poet, author, activist and leader of the mythopoetic mens movement, most famous for his iron john. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Iron john is a book that i recommend as a counselor for both men, and woman read. National book awardwinning poet and translator robert bly offers nothing less than a new vision of what it is to be a man.
Iron john the pillow and the key 1 iron john a book about men even in our era the agreedon model has changed drastically. The michigan daily archives undoubtedly has the article i wrote in the huge, yellowed volumes in its dusty library if the library or the volumes or the dust are still there. Iron john ebook by robert bly 9780306824272 rakuten kobo. Please see wikipedias template documentation for further citation fields. His resulting book about this ageold story helped establish the mens movement, and his seminars inspired its drumbeating, tree. I think the most vital part of the book is the iron john story that is in the back of the book. If a piece of literature, which is written in a novel style like iron john, stays for 62 weeks on the. I consider it important for the growth into maturity for men and suggest another book to be studied after iron john. In iron john, robert bly presented a moderately interesting idea in a very unsatisfying way.
Poet robert bly has for a number of years now worn another hat. This content was uploaded by our users and we assume. Follow robert bly and explore their bibliography from s robert bly author page. Finding rich meaning in ancient stories and legends, bly uses the grimm fairy tale iron john in which a mentor or wild man guides a young man through eight stages of male growthto remind us of ways of knowing long forgotten, images of deep and vigorous masculinity centered in feeling and protective of the young. See all 2 formats and editions hide other formats and.
In the story, the brave hunter goes into the forest that men do not come back from as it serves as a challenge to him. See all 2 formats and editions hide other formats and editions. Stream and download audiobooks to your computer, tablet or mobile phone. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. Robert bly born december 23, 1926 is an american poet, essayist, activist and leader of the mythopoetic mens movement. The hunter goes into the forest and his dog is pulled by a hand that emerges from the lake.
Blys early collection of poems, silence in the snowy fields, was published in 1962, and its plain, imagistic style had considerable influence on american verse of the next two decades. Robert bly 1990 chapter one the pillow and the key we talk a great deal about the american man, as if there were. Robert bly and the poetics of immanence, in contemporary. The writing university is an interactive virtual space for the university of iowas creative writing community. Bly is also a translator of scandinavian literature, such as twenty poems of tomas transtromer. Iron john isbn 9780712610704 pdf epub robert bly ebook. A book about men is a book by american poet robert bly published in 1990 by addisonwesley, and is his bestknown work. Topics iron john collection opensource language english. A paperback reissue from the bestselling author of iron john.
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