<DIV><p>Norman Dubie has one of the most radical imaginations in American letters.</p><p>Winner of the PEN Literary Award for Poetry, <i>The Mercy Seat</i> includes selections from each of Dubie&rsquo;s 17 previous volumes. Whether illuminating a common laborer or a legendary thinker, Dubie meets his subjects with utter compassion for their humanity and the dignity behind their creative work. In pursuit of the well-told story, his love of history is ever-present&mdash;though often he recreates his own.</p><p>&ldquo;With its restoration of so many out-of-print poems and its addition of new works, <i>The Mercy Seat</i> was one of last year&rsquo;s most significant publications.&rdquo; &mdash;<i>American Book Review</i></p><p>&ldquo;The voices of Dubie&rsquo;s monologues are full of astonishing intimacy.&rdquo; &mdash;<i>The Washington Post Book World</i></p></DIV>