Selected Excerpts from Reviews
The Grove of the Eumenides: Essays on Literature, Criticism, and Culture
"Poet Frederick Glaysher in these essays comments on a variety of literary and social issues, ranging from the plays of Sophocles, and the major works of Japanese literature, to the loss of religion and spirituality in modern society and literature." “New Titles Elected for Essay and General Literature Index,” September 2007, H. W. Wilson Co.
Into the Ruins
"At high points, his poetry captures the feelings of contingency and horror felt by many but expressed well by few.... Glaysher fits well within the literary tradition, as he shows with his allusions to or mentions of, among others, Augustine, Dante, Yeats, Dostoyevsky, and Hayden; however, his voice is distinct. Among contemporary poets, few have a vision as darkly haunting.... Few also have the knowledge and the ability to handle contemporary issues with such presence of language. Out of the mass of recent poetry books, here is one you should read." William Allegrezza, Jack Magazine
"A litany of horrors updating Eliot’s Waste Land, the book upbraids poets for turning inward only to concerns of the self." Vince Gotera, North American Review
"A book about something other than an author’s reflections in a mirror." Expansive Poetry
"Frederick Glaysher prefaces his collection of poems with the declaration that ’poets must turn to viewing and contemplating the real world, where men butcher and kill, love and hate, aspire and sometimes achieve...’ which is echoed throughout Into The Ruins. Presented in 5 parts, Glaysher dangles language fueled visions of reality hauntingly similar to every day news snippets that pound at us continuously via TV, radio, and print. Often gruesome and relentless, Glaysher’s images are dark and horrifying; yet, a true to life presentation of the world and possibly personal events as seen through his eyes. Into The Ruins dishes out scenes of death and destruction impressing a distinct poetic style along with a macabre rendering of the mayhem people continuously seem to inflict on one another. It weaves a refreshing presentation of language with a heart-stopping example of contemporary life." Poetry Market Ezine
"It is argued that now poets must turn to contemplating the real world and Glaysher is remarkable in his achievement of this . . . it is excellent poetry; his words and images hit you right in the gut . . . well worth reading." Poetry Greece
"Equivalent to the shock of visiting a holocaust museum depicting all the world’s victims of genocide. . . .the imagery he flashes in this gallery of atrocity, hopefully will sensitize readers to the extent that they will recognize the moral imperative of conquering the evil inherent in man." Collages & Bricolages
"Powerful poetry...." Katnip Reviews
"His poetry is fluid and rhythmic . . . thoughtful and provocative." Main Street Rag
"Fred Glaysher takes us on a journey to that larger dimension of responsibility where thought meets action. This is a poetry of connectedness, which asks us to bring together broken parts of our cultures (both East and West) and search for a new identity, perhaps a new world order. His finely crafted poems are accessible and have a purpose that needs to be heard. " WPON Interview
"Frederick Glaysher’s poetry is one of artistic energy, an articulate and penetrating voice . . . a poetry of lyrical passion and clear-eyed depiction." The Midwest Book Review
"An impressively broad survey of atrocity." Chicago Poetry
"A poetic reflection on postmodern life, with a particular focus on the limitations of both Eastern and Western thought. Collectively offers a higher path to universality for our future." EdwardHamilton.com
The Bower of Nil
"This is a doorway into the future . . . the subtleties and complexities of the aforementioned cultures inform his subject matter and his political interests circumscribe the work. The Bower of Nil is an Orwell meets Nietzsche meets C.S. Lewis mélange of despair, madness, and hope. Not lyrical, not tidy and not information-byte-sized, your fingers come away heavy with paint—rather than print— after reading this. Colored richly and satisfyingly with symbols (e.g., the name Peter, the lily, the lantern) that speak directly to the psyche—the way that artwork spoke to the illiterate in the Middle Ages...." Poems Niederngasse
"Mr. Glaysher writes with a genuine passion, with an obvious thrill at the play of ideas, and with an often compelling sense of purpose.... On balance the poem is very worthwhile reading and the middle section is just outstanding." Brothersjudd.com (review) - Interview
"The Bower of Nil is where we all live. . . . The narrator and academic, Peter, would appear to hate academics, but the 65 page poem is a masterfully executed academic exercise, using the history of western philosophical thought as a metaphorical tool. The invading enchantress -- Peter’s wife for 30 years -- has been ’stripped of her shoes and socks, spine-sliced / at the back of her neck’ and left ’on top of a garbage heap.’ Glaysher may have meant the enchantress to be more muse-like, but anarchist, hedonist Mary Marsh, as an idea, appears ever his foil. Peter’s children have had ’every advantage / of the modern world,’’ but grew up with many human failings. The narrator says one needs to learn ’to be content and to dominate oneself, / not others.’ . . . A thought provoking read for these times!" Pulsar
"In embracing nothingness, Glaysher . . . explores the liberating potential of loss and acceptance as agents for empowerment." The Carolina Quarterly
"This poem dated 2002 C.E. is quite fascinating as a kind of island in a sea of history, a landmark in a mist of unrealized dreams and all the vast potential of the days that remain ahead of us." Solarguard
"Glaysher is uncompromising in his assessment of the human experience. ...It’s a book that is food for thought." Poetic Voices
"Glaysher pays his readers the compliment of assuming that they will have at least a basic familiarity with the major world classics and philosophies of both East and West." Manifold 44
"In some ways, this seems like the least fashionable book imaginable in today’s poetry world, which I would hazard to say is exactly what Glaysher wants it to be." Sidereality
"The Bower of Nil is a fine poem by a poet who has done his work carefully and well. His protagonist has a tangible reality even when, especially when, he is groping with the most difficult and obscure ideas.... Glaysher tells his story and draws us in skillfully. So much so that his book, a thing made of paper and ink, becomes a rich, vital experience for which we should be grateful." Muse Apprentice Guild
