New and Collected Hell

Why people recommend it

New and Collected Hell by Shane McCrae is a profound poetry collection published under the subtitle of a single, sustained poem. The book was featured prominently during an episode of The Book Review podcast, where Greg Coles introduced it as the top recommendation for a poetry-focused segment. Coles walked the audience through the specific title and noted the author's name, drawing attention to the unique structural framing of the volume as an extended poetic work rather than a traditional anthology of separate verse pieces. Later in the same episode, Gilbert Cruz revisited the title during the wrap-up segment, recapping the recommended reading list for the listeners and confirming the book's place among the notable literary highlights discussed. The discussion underscored the aesthetic and formal qualities of McCrae's writing, presenting the collection as an engaging piece of contemporary poetry worthy of close reading and critical attention. Through these brief mentions, the podcast brought wider exposure to McCrae's unique poetic project, inviting listeners to explore the complex themes and stylistic choices embedded within the verses of this comprehensive and striking literary work.