George Witte
Encyclopedia
George Witte, an American poet
from Madison
, New Jersey
, is the author of Deniability: Poems
and The Apparitioners: Poems.
His poems have also been published in The Atlantic, Boulevard, Gettysburg Review, The Kenyon Review
, Ploughshares, Prairie Schooner, New York Quarterly, Southwest Review
, and Virginia Quarterly Review.
Witte has also worked in book publishing
at St. Martin's Press
for twenty five years, as an editor
, the publisher of Picador USA, and now as editor in chief
. He lives in Ridgewood
, New Jersey
with his wife and two children.
Excerpts from reviews of Apparitioners: Poems
Poet
A poet is a person who writes poetry. A poet's work can be literal, meaning that his work is derived from a specific event, or metaphorical, meaning that his work can take on many meanings and forms. Poets have existed since antiquity, in nearly all languages, and have produced works that vary...
from Madison
Madison, New Jersey
Madison is a borough in Morris County, New Jersey, in the United States. As of the 2000 United States Census, the population was 16,530. It also is known as "The Rose City".-Geography:Madison is located at ....
, New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
, is the author of Deniability: Poems
Deniability: Poems
Deniability: Poems is a book written by American poet, George Witte, published in 2009 by Orchises Press.-Premise:Deniability: Poems is a collection of poems that presents internal thought processes from 9/11 through the years of war that followed. It leads the reader on an examination of...
and The Apparitioners: Poems.
Career
George Witte is the author of two books of poetry: Deniability: Poems, published by Orchises Press in 2009, and The Apparitioners: Poems, published by Three Rail Press in 2005.His poems have also been published in The Atlantic, Boulevard, Gettysburg Review, The Kenyon Review
The Kenyon Review
The Kenyon Review is a Literary magazine based in Gambier, Ohio, USA, home of Kenyon College. The Review was founded in 1939 by John Crowe Ransom, critic and professor of English at Kenyon College, who served as its editor until 1959...
, Ploughshares, Prairie Schooner, New York Quarterly, Southwest Review
Southwest Review
The Southwest Review is a literary journal published quarterly, based on the Southern Methodist University campus in Dallas, Texas. It is the third oldest literary quarterly in the United States of America . The current editor-in-chief is Willard Spiegelman.The journal was formerly known as the...
, and Virginia Quarterly Review.
Witte has also worked in book publishing
Publishing
Publishing is the process of production and dissemination of literature or information—the activity of making information available to the general public...
at St. Martin's Press
St. Martin's Press
St. Martin's Press is a book publisher headquartered in the Flatiron Building in New York City. Currently, St. Martin's Press is one of the United States' largest publishers, bringing to the public some 700 titles a year under eight imprints, which include St. Martin's Press , St...
for twenty five years, as an editor
Editing
Editing is the process of selecting and preparing written, visual, audible, and film media used to convey information through the processes of correction, condensation, organization, and other modifications performed with an intention of producing a correct, consistent, accurate, and complete...
, the publisher of Picador USA, and now as editor in chief
Editor in chief
An editor-in-chief is a publication's primary editor, having final responsibility for the operations and policies. Additionally, the editor-in-chief is held accountable for delegating tasks to staff members as well as keeping up with the time it takes them to complete their task...
. He lives in Ridgewood
Ridgewood, New Jersey
Ridgewood is a village in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the village population was 24,958. Ridgewood is an affluent suburban bedroom community of New York City, located approximately northwest of Midtown Manhattan.The Village of Ridgewood was...
, New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
with his wife and two children.
Collected Works
Reviews
Excerpts from reviews of Deniability: Poems:
“Poetry is as ancient as language. It ranges from the simple pun to the complex metaphor. And at its best it is nothing less music for the mind. Such is the caliber of poetry by George Witte that is now compiled into "Deniability". This is Witte's second anthology and is particularly notable for his deft skills in creating memorable verse." --Midwest Poetry Review.
"[Deniability] looks closely at our troubled times, as well as the troubling language and verbal abuse that surfaces in such uncertain moments: clichés and euphemisms, code words and doublespeak....With loose but careful measures and a keen regard for the exactly right word, Witte examines every opened can of worms before kicking it down the road. Smart, timely, and sane, this volume is highly recommended." --Library Journal
"There are times in history when it is best for a people to move on from past mistakes. There are other times, such as now, when the past cries out to be explored. For those who are searching for meaning to the last eight years, a new book by American poet, George Witte, Deniability, is the place to start." --The Environmentalist
Excerpts from reviews of Apparitioners: Poems
"His intensity of intelligence burns down scenes to their forms. . . rare and original. Read him.” --James Applewhite, 2005
"A metaphysician of the suburbs, alert to the heights and depths that inhere in everyday life...lovely, auspicious debut." -- Willard Spiegelman
"A storyteller, a keen observer of natural and social environments, and an intelligent commentator on our particular moment in history." -- Henry Hart, Verse
"Complex but bracingly clear view of a world where apparent ease and security are undermined by apprehension...remarkable achievement." -- Fred Chappell
"Confident, ironic....Like a Frost of the suburbs, Witte regards the cozy, domesticated landscape he inhabits with an unsettling lucidity." -- Adam Kirsch, New York Sun
"Genuine religious sensibility informs these poems....If you read only one book of poems this year, make it this one." -- Frank Wilson, The Philadelphia Inquirer
"His linguistic glow, around a larger patterning, is rare and original. Read him." -- James Applewhite
"Mature in both voice and vision...a style that evokes both A.R. Ammons and Robert Frost." -- Library Journal
"Out of our shared wounds and joys...George Witte makes poems are marked by a rare clarity and accessibility." -- George Garrett
George Garrett
"Powerful...exquisite...brilliantly imagined...poetry notable for its imagery, which is informed by the intense interest that is love." -- Academia
“A certain but undefined knowledge that forces dark and deep are destroying the underpinnings of contemporary life . . .a remarkable achievement . . . ” --Fred Chappell, 2005
Links to Reviews
- New York Sun review of The Apparitioners
- Academia review of The Apparitioners
- Library Journal review of The Apparitioners
- Midwest Book Review of Deniability
- The Environmentalist review of Deniability
- The Chicago Sun-Times review of Deniability
- The Huffington Post review of Deniability
- Library Journal review of Deniability
See also
- Deniability: PoemsDeniability: PoemsDeniability: Poems is a book written by American poet, George Witte, published in 2009 by Orchises Press.-Premise:Deniability: Poems is a collection of poems that presents internal thought processes from 9/11 through the years of war that followed. It leads the reader on an examination of...
- New York SunNew York SunThe New York Sun was a weekday daily newspaper published in New York City from 2002 to 2008. When it debuted on April 16, 2002, adopting the name, motto, and masthead of an otherwise unrelated earlier New York paper, The Sun , it became the first general-interest broadsheet newspaper to be started...
- Library JournalLibrary JournalLibrary Journal is a trade publication for librarians. It was founded in 1876 by Melvil Dewey . It reports news about the library world, emphasizing public libraries, and offers feature articles about aspects of professional practice...
- The EnvironmentalistThe EnvironmentalistThe Environmentalist is a public interest, eco-investigative journalism site that reports on the geopolitics and science of climate change, general politics, sustainable living, business impact and the history of affected regions.-Founding:...
- The Huffington PostThe Huffington PostThe Huffington Post is an American news website and content-aggregating blog founded by Arianna Huffington, Kenneth Lerer, and Jonah Peretti, featuring liberal minded columnists and various news sources. The site offers coverage of politics, theology, media, business, entertainment, living, style,...
- Chicago Sun-TimesChicago Sun-TimesThe Chicago Sun-Times is an American daily newspaper published in Chicago, Illinois. It is the flagship paper of the Sun-Times Media Group.-History:The Chicago Sun-Times is the oldest continuously published daily newspaper in the city...
- St. Martin's PressSt. Martin's PressSt. Martin's Press is a book publisher headquartered in the Flatiron Building in New York City. Currently, St. Martin's Press is one of the United States' largest publishers, bringing to the public some 700 titles a year under eight imprints, which include St. Martin's Press , St...