Unknown bards

The blues becomes transparent about itself

By John Jeremiah Sullivan

Download Pdf

Read Online

This article is available in PDF and Microfiche formats only.

You are currently viewing this article as a guest. If you are a subscriber, please sign in. If you aren't, please subscribe below and get access to the entire Harper's archive for only $23.99/year.

= Subscribers only.
Sign in here.
Subscribe here.

Download Pdf

Single Page

Print Page

More from John Jeremiah Sullivan:

Reviews — From the October 2007 issue

A rawness of seeing

Denis Johnson writes the big novel

Article — From the October 2002 issue

Horseman, Pass By

Glory, grief, and the race for the Triple Crown

Article — From the August 2000 issue

The death of the hired poem

Robert Frost, Monster.com, and the anxiety of affluence

.cookies-disabled { position: fixed;left: 0;top: 0;width: 100%;height: 100%;z-index: 9999;background: #000;background: rgba(0,0,0,0.8); background: -webkit-radial-gradient(50% 50%, ellipse closest-corner, rgba(0,0,0,0.45) 1%, rgba(0,0,0,0.8) 100%);background: -moz-radial-gradient(50% 50%, ellipse closest-corner, rgba(0,0,0,0.45) 1%, rgba(0,0,0,0.8) 100%);background: -ms-radial-gradient(50% 50%, ellipse closest-corner, rgba(0,0,0,0.45) 1%, rgba(0,0,0,0.8) 100%);background: radial-gradient(50% 50%, ellipse closest-corner, rgba(0,0,0,0.45) 1%, rgba(0,0,0,0.8) 100%);filter: alpha(opacity = 80);}

Many features on this website require JavaScript.You can enable JavaScript via your browser preference settings.

Unknown bards

The blues becomes transparent about itself

A rawness of seeing

Horseman, Pass By

The death of the hired poem

Get access to 169 years of
Harper’s for only $23.99

THE CURRENT ISSUE

October 2019