Cover
Title Page
Copyright
Contents
Introduction: ‘Everybody’s Autobiography’: Writing Against the Confessional Grain
1. ‘Living on the Edge of a Live Volcano’: Childhood, 1927–42
2. ‘Our Days Put on Such Reticence’: The Making of Little J. A., 1943–9
3. ‘Excitation, Excitation of Feeling/ Excitement, Mental Excitement’: The Encouraging Climate of New York, 1949–55
4. ‘I Love Trashy Things as Long as They’re French’: Taking French Leave, 1955–64
5. ‘The Invisible Avant-Garde’: Turning Down Warhol, 1965–75
6. ‘I’m Famous for Being Famous’: The Decade of Self-Inventiveness, 1975–84
7. ‘The Tribe of John’: In the Manner of Ashbery, 1984–94
8. ‘Jump-Start Variety’: The Zaniness of the Late Style, 1994–2017
Epilogue: ‘Let’s Pay Attention’: Ashbery’s Lives
References
Bibliography
Acknowledgements
Photo Acknowledgements