Octavio Paz stands in the first rank of poets on the world-scene today. I'd stress the notion world-scene because it won't do thinking of him as a local, a Mexican or even South American.
Paz's poetry, uttered in what seems a direct, even brutally vigorous language, derives its transcendental thrust and vision, its visual, aural, tactile power from the intellectual authority of the French Symbolists, from Surrealism during the 20s and 30s, from English and German romantic poets—all melded through the sonorities of 17th-century Spanish Baroque masters.
This is a free excerpt of 86 words. There are 260 words (approx.
1 page at 300 words per page) in the full critical essay.
Read the rest of this Criticism with our Paz, Octavio 1914–: Critical Essay by Jascha Kessler Access Pass.
