About the Author

Richard Blanco's first book, City of a Hundred Fires, won the University of Pittsburgh Agnes Starrett Prize in 1997. His work has appeared in many anthologies, including The Best American Poetry 2000. Blanco, who received a Master of Fine Arts degree in Creative Writing in 1997, lives in Miami, where he works as an engineer and writes. He was selected as the 2013 Inaugural Poet by President Barack Obama.

Reviews

Winner of the PEN Beyond Margins Award! "Takes the reader on a splendid journey through time, love, family, and heritage." --Multicultural Review "This heartfelt collection of poems is an endless pursuit of what we hope to become." --Multicultural Review "Directions to the Beach of the Dead is absolutely breathtaking and gorgeous in its quest for place, family, self-discovery. For all poetry lovers, this will be a difficult book to top." --Virgil Suarez "Part travel diary and part journal in time, Directions to the Beach of the Dead takes Blanco into uncharted territory, emotionally as well as geographically, showcasing his great gift for the precise notation of sights, thoughts, and feelings. This book confirms Blanco's place as a strong and distinctive voice in American poetry. --Gustavo Perez Firmat