Jay Parini

In this lively exploration of America’s intellectual heritage, acclaimed poet, novelist, and critic Jay Parini celebrates the life and times of thirteen books that helped shape the American psyche. Moving nimbly between the great watersheds in American letters—including Walden, Huckleberry Finn, The Souls of Black …

“Nothing less than spellbinding . . . It’s an eye-opener. Anecdotal without being tawdry, analytical without being academic, it captures the essence of Faulkner’s life with the narrative drive of a novel.” — Houston Chronicle “A splendid life of William Faulkner . . . Not only readable but downright enthralling.” — …

Robert Frost: A Life is a 2000 biography of the American poet Robert Frost written by Jay Parini. It won the Chicago Tribune Heartland Prize for best non-fiction book of the year.

In a deeply personal memoir filled with humor, encouragement, and hard-won wisdom about the teacher's craft, the distinguished critic and author furnishes valuable insights into the many challenges educators face, as well as a discussion of such topics as politics in the classroom, the importance of a disciplined …

The Last Station is a novel by Jay Parini that was first published in 1990. It’s the story of the final year in the life of Leo Tolstoy, told from multiple viewpoints, including Tolstoy’s young secretary, Valentin Bulgakov, his wife, Sophia Tolstaya, his daughter Sasha, his publisher and close friend, Vladimir …