<P><I>The First Four Books of Poems</I> collects the early work that established Louise Gluck as one of America's most original and important poets. Honored with the Pulitzer Prize for <I>The WildIris,</I> Gluck was celebrated early in her career for her fierce, austerely beautiful voice. In<I>Firstborn, The House on Marshland Wand, Descending Figure,</I> and <I>The Triumph of Achilles,</I> which wonthe National Book Critics Circle Award for Poetry, we see the conscious progression of apoet who speaks with blade-like accuracy and stirring depth.</P>