Themes

Access the McNair-Hall correspondence via a selection of themes that emerge from the content of the letters.

Click on a theme below to go to a list of letters related to the theme.

Acceptances of poetry by editors

Process of publishing first book of poetry

Awards for poetry & writing

Bad reviews

Cliches & dead metaphors

Congratulations

Encouragement: Hall to McNair

Encouragement: McNair to Hall

Depression

Family deaths

Editor’s suggestions for poems chosen for publication

Illness

The impact of McNair’s NEA fellowship in Poetry

The introduction of Joseph Amaryllis

Joey Amaryllis developed into a personality

Plans for NEA applications

The poet laureate sweatshirt

The practice of holding on to poems

Public readings of poetry

Responses to Hall’s books

Reviews and articles about first book of poetry

Robert Frost

Self-doubt as a poet

Teaching: McNair to Hall

Teaching: Hall to McNair

New teaching jobs

Time for writing poetry

Translation of Nicanor Parra

Writing textbooks

Visits between Hall and McNair