Book Recommendation: "Studying with Miss Bishop" by Dana Gioia

An entertaining, inspirational weekend read

I want to extend a warm welcome to new readers here at Classically Cultured, who have since hopped on board after I released by band The Crazy Daysies latest single exclusively here on Substack before anywhere else. I am so thankful to my subscribers and supporters who believe in the work I’m building at this fledgling endeavor. If you want to understand exactly what I intend to accomplish with CC, head on over to this START HERE post for an introductory read. Now, onto my latest book recommendation…

Accomplished businessman and critically-acclaimed poet, Dana Gioia

Few poets capture my heart the way Dana Gioia and his eloquent, impactful stanzas do.

He’s known as a rare man of great civility in the poetry world. And his fidelity to virtue can be found within each word he pens. 

This type of unyielding commitment is almost unheard of. Especially in the arts world, where ethics is more so a goalpost to be moved alongside one’s advantage rather than a boundary drawn that no one is allowed to cross, not even yourself, no matter how tempting. 

I’ve devoured much of his poetry and critical essays. And I’m so happy he continues to put out collections so I get new glimpses into one of the written word’s most unique minds.

While many poets make their living by working in academia, Gioia spent a good portion of his life living two separate ones.

By day, he was a skilled businessman, executive at General Foods.

By night, he took off his cape (or perhaps put it on), and became a brilliant man of letters.

It was only when he started receiving recognition from the professional poetry world that he finally relented his secret to his coworkers. Much to their confusion, he indeed, lived a double life as (gasp), a poet.

The nuances and complexities of this unique situation are brilliantly told in his memoir, “Studying with Miss Bishop.”

It’s a walk down memory lane with the man himself. It’s an intimate look into the life a young poet leads that requires delicate, precise balance, which is what makes it so damn hard to become a successful one.

This look into a world of poetry, his world of poetry, is both highly entertaining and inspirational.

No drudgery is required with this book, especially as he chronicles his relationship with several of his key influences, including the enigmatic Elizabeth Bishop, who has long been a favorite of mine as well. Just try reading her poem “One Art” and not feel a keen connection to her across the invisible, silent communication wires of relatable stanzas and masterful technique.

I have laughed at his anecdotes, and have been moved by his confessions of artistic insomnia, something that plagues many of us creative types.

I also find myself with a pen of my own in hand, underlining eloquent lines that jump off the page in heroic fashion.

In regards to Miss Bishop’s thoughts on her arch “nemesis,” the critics, Gioia writes, “...she personalized the nemesis by referring collectively to “the critics,” a sort of fumbling conspiracy of well-meaning idiots with access to printing presses.”

Anyone who’s spent a day trying to get a poem published in a poetry magazine or journal should get a good chuckle out of that one.

Another tidbit offered in regards to Miss Bishop and her class he took while attending Harvard is especially nourishing to the spirit:

“Politeness was a virtue nurtured in her seminar.”

What a beautiful standard to uphold.

If you’re in the mood for a fun weekend read, this memoir is the perfect addition to your reading list.

It’s a page turner that leaves you wanting more.

But then again, to me, that’s true of all of Dana’s work.

“Studying with Miss Bishop” is available on Amazon now.

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