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$24.95 cloth 0-88784-172-4, 252 pp., 51/2 [Symbol Not Transcribed] [times] 81/2, House of Anansi Press, Sept. Reviewed from unbound page proofs
With the publication of this initially daunting, progressively more and more absorbing, and ultimately radiant book, Hugh Hood concludes The New Age, the epic cycle of 12 novels that he began with The Swing in the Garden in 1975. Near Water is not absolutely perfect - the first chapter could be condensed by about two pages and subsequent chapters by occasional passages - but the book is near-perfect, as well as stunningly original. Surprisingly, although it represents...