The Art of Biblical Poetry

The author of The Art of Biblical Narrative provides a fresh interpretation of the poetry of the Old Testament and a lucid, original account of how biblical poetry works.From the backcover"This is one of the most interesting studies of poetic technique I have read in years." -- Peter Levi, New York Times Book Review"A model of what such studies should be... It has al the skill and sensitivity of The Art of Biblical Narrative; it is learned and lucid, sometimes polemical but always with grace."-- Frank Kermode, Kings Collge, Camgridge"A most important contribution to our understanding of the relation between the literary value of a text and its religious roots. Alter's analysis of individual biblical texts is sure-footed and perceptive, and we are all in his debt for a contribution that is bound to be of seminal importance."-- Hans Frei, Department of Religious Studies, Yale University"Breathtaking in its power. It not only reflects the increasing influence of literary criticism in biblical studies, it advances that criticism dramatically."-- Walter Brueggemann, The Christian Century