Carolyn Forché, in her poetry, meditates on the brutalities and injustices of the 20th century. Ms. Forché, who received a Lannan Poetry Fellowship, read the entire text of The angel of history and talked with Michael Silverblatt on May 24, 1994, in Los Angeles.

Describes the author's deep friendship with a mysterious intellectual who introduced her to the culture and people of El Salvador in the 1970s, a tumultuous period in the country's history, inspiring her work as an unlikely activist.

Provides analysis of the most frequently studied poems in literature courses. Contains author biography (if attributed), poem text, poem summary, themes, style, historical context, critical overview, and criticism.

Provides analysis of the most frequently studied poems in literature courses. Contains author biography (if attributed), poem text, poem summary, themes, style, historical context, critical overview, and criticism.