Corbett, William, Literary New England: A History and Guide, London: Faber & Faber, 1993.

This brief overview traces the roots of the New England literary tradition and the literary ancestors who influenced Donald Hall and his generation.

Howard, Robert West, The Horse in America, Chicago: Follett, 1965.

One of strongest works on this topic, it provides a unique interpretation of history through the eyes of the horse. West traces the gradual replacement of human labor by horse power, including the eventual demise of the animal's role as a beast of burden. Also strong is his account of the horse's arrival in the Americas during the seventeenth century and its subsequent transformation of Native American life. Howard's is an indispensable resource for all things horsey.

Rector, Liam, ed., The Day I Was Older: On the Poetry of Donald Hall, Santa Cruz, CA: Story Line Press, 1989. Rector has collected a...