By Word of Mouth

Next month, New Directions will publish a collection of William Carlos Williams’s translations of Spanish and Latin American Poets.  By Word of Mouth: Poems from the Spanish 1916–1919 has been compiled and edited by translator and Williams’ scholar Jonathan Cohen. Included in this bilingual edition are the giants—Neruda, Paz, and Parra—as well as many lesser-known poets such as Alfonso Guillén Zelaya and Alí Chumacero. In the meantime, Williams fans can whet their appetites with this essay by Mr. Cohen at Words Without Borders, that explains and contextualizes Williams’ translations.