Lewis Putnam Turco

About the Author

Lewis Putnam Turco is a distinguished American poet, educator, and literary critic whose contributions to the art of poetry have spanned over six decades. Born in Buffalo, New York, in 1934, Turco earned his degrees from the University of Connecticut and the University of Iowa's Writers' Workshop, where he honed his craft under the guidance of luminaries like Paul Engle. As a professor emeritus at SUNY Oswego, he inspired generations of writers through his teachings on form, meter, and innovation in verse. Turco's own poetry collections, including Awaken, Bells in Winter and The Skorzeny Poems, showcase his mastery of traditional and experimental styles, blending lyricism with intellectual depth. His seminal work, The Book of Forms: A Handbook of Poetics, Including Odd and Invented Forms, Revised and Expanded Edition, remains an indispensable resource for poets worldwide, offering comprehensive insights into poetic structures from sonnets to avant-garde inventions. Turco's enduring legacy lies in his ability to bridge classical traditions with modern sensibilities, making poetry accessible yet profoundly challenging.