Plot Summary

Spoon River Anthology

Edgar Lee Masters
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Spoon River Anthology

Fiction | Poem | Adult | Published in 1915

Book Brief

Edgar Lee Masters

Spoon River Anthology

Fiction | Poem | Adult | Published in 1915
Book Details
Pages

144

Format

Poem • Fiction

Setting

Spoon River, Illinois • Early 1900s

Publication Year

1915

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

16-99 years

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Super Short Summary

Spoon River Anthology by Edgar Lee Masters is a collection of free verse poems that epitomizes the epitaphs of deceased residents of the fictional town of Spoon River. Through these monologues, individuals reveal intimate details and truths about their lives, creating a tapestry of American small-town experiences and illuminating the complexities of human nature.

Melancholic

Contemplative

Mysterious

Bittersweet

Dark

Reviews & Readership

4.1

12,699 ratings

74%

Loved it

20%

Mixed feelings

6%

Not a fan

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Review Roundup

Spoon River Anthology by Edgar Lee Masters is widely praised for its innovative free verse and poignant portrayal of small-town American life. Readers appreciate its unique structure and compelling character sketches. However, some find its tone bleak and repetitive. Despite this, the anthology remains an influential classic in modern poetry. Masters, Edgar Lee. Spoon River Anthology.

Who should read this

Who Should Read Spoon River Anthology?

A reader who enjoys Spoon River Anthology by Edgar Lee Masters is likely fascinated by American literature, particularly in exploring the complexity of small-town life through interconnected poetic monologues. Fans of Thornton Wilder's Our Town or Sherwood Anderson's Winesburg, Ohio would appreciate the candid, introspective portraits, and the themes of mortality and hidden truths.

4.1

12,699 ratings

74%

Loved it

20%

Mixed feelings

6%

Not a fan

Book Details
Pages

144

Format

Poem • Fiction

Setting

Spoon River, Illinois • Early 1900s

Publication Year

1915

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

16-99 years

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