One of the most influential modern poets, Anthony Hecht (1923–2004) was awarded virtually every major American prize for poetry, including the Pulitzer and the Bollingen. Written mostly by other poets, in styles ranging from the informal to the scholarly, these essays explore Hecht’s image and poetic devices, his debts to other poets, and his place in the study of modern poetry. The Burdens of Formality presents varied perspectives that demonstrate the extensive influence that Hecht has commanded on the work of modern poets and the study of verse.