Reviews

Ebony and Crystal: Poems in Verse and Prose by Clark Ashton Smith

jeffhall's review against another edition

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5.0

Clark Ashton Smith's (CAS) second collection of poetry is great stuff, showing noticeable advancement in both subject and technique over his debut collection The Star-Treader and Other Poems.

The are too many great poems in Ebony and Crystal to list individually, but noteworthy are "The Hashish Eater; or, the Apocalypse of Evil" (his longest epic poem) as well as a selection of "Poems in Prose". CAS was a master of the latter form, and this collection is worthwhile for those pieces alone, since they provide a alternative structure in which CAS could allow his poetic talents to blossom.

nedasaurus's review against another edition

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Definitely some interesting ideas and imagery, but on the whole the language is overwrought and Mr. Smith proves quite repetitious (I never want to read another one of his poems on love, I've just read the same two 50 times).
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