Divine Comedies

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Published in 1976, Divine Comedies is the seventh book of poetry by James Merrill (1926-1995). It includes "Lost in Translation" and all of The Book of Ephraim. The Book of Ephraim is the first of three books which make up The Changing Light at Sandover.

Although Merrill had written years before, in "Voices From Another World", of having supernatural experiences with a Ouija board, Divine Comedies was far more candid about the extent of a practice which had preoccupied Merrill for several decades. The Book of Ephraim, in taking the spiritual as its working landscape, took confessionalism to an entirely unexpected territory. Many historical poets of eras past, including W. H. Auden, speak through the Ouija board, as well as Merrill's old friend the filmmaker Maya Deren.

Although some readers dismiss Merrill's unorthodox working methods, there is no question about the quality of the verse produced in these séances. The Ouija board, telegraphing its eerie messages in capital letters, conveys beautiful poetry through automatic writing. Merrill's partner, David Jackson, shared the teacup and transcription duties which led to The Book of Ephraim.

Divine Comedies was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for poetry in 1977.