The Demon And The Angel: Searching for the Source of Artistic Inspiration

A work of art, whether a painting, a dance, a poem, or a jazz composition, can be admired in its own right. But how does the artist actually create his or her work? What is the source of an artist's inspiration? What is the force that impels the artist to set down a vision that becomes art?
In this groundbreaking book, Edward Hirsch explores the concept of duende, that mysterious, highly potent power of creativity that results in a work of art. With examples ranging from Federico García Lorca's wrestling with darkness as he discovered the fountain of words within himself to Martha Graham's creation of her most emotional dances, from the canvases of Robert Motherwell to William Blake's celestial visions, Hirsch taps into the artistic imagination and explains, in terms illuminating and emotional, how different artists respond to the power and demonic energy of creative impulse.
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PRAISE FOR HOW TO READ A POEM

"Laudable . . . The answer Hirsch gives to the question of How to Read a Poem is: Ecstatically."--The Boston Book Review

"A lovely book, full of joy and wisdom."--The Baltimore Sun

"Hirsch takes us forcefully through his love of verse, with welcome technical asides and biographical detours along the way."--Publishers Weekly

"Hirsch, a truly gifted poet and scholar, brings the full heat of his literary passion to this enlightening and deeply moving journey into the heart of poetry."--Booklist

"Hirsch is so steeped in literature, painting, and music, and so voracious in his pursuit of the revelations art delivers, that he's able to articulate the seemingly ineffable through brillant critical analyses and empathic insights into artists' lives....[a] unique, exhilarating, and virtuosic performance." - Booklist