Carpet Diem

"Bradley’s prose is crisp, fresh as a new loaf of bread, and not without a certain elegance of description. . . . The allure of artisanal rugs is afforded the treatment it deserves." — Kirkus Reviews "Poet Bradley (A Stroll in the Rain) unfurls a rich and surprisingly intimate account of his entry into the world of oriental rug–collecting. . . . Elevated by a poet’s patient attention to detail, it’s a captivating window into the culture and history of an artisanal craft. This will appeal to anyone who’s fallen deeply for a new passion." — Publishers Weekly “‘It’s sophisticated in conception, harmonious in palette, and meticulously woven, a consummate example of the kind of artifice that is cool and cerebral,’ George Bradley says of a particularly impressive oriental carpet. Much the same can be said of his book, an unexpectedly engaging account of his long fascination with carpets and their cultural history and lore, not to mention his interactions with fellow connoisseurs, dealers, restorers and not a few shady characters playing the trade.... Bradley has plenty to talk about, and weaves it well.” — The Post and Courier “George Bradley is one of America’s finest living poets, and what makes his poetry so remarkable is its combination of offhand fluency and grammatical sophistication and the accuracy and felt reality of his observations. These qualities inform Carpet Diem as well, bringing to life the vivid world of oriental rugs and instilling in the reader an insatiable desire to live in their daily presence, and the pleasure of immersing oneself in each page and reading on.”  — John Koethe, author of Beyond Belief and Walking Backwards "The journey from innocence to experience, from wide-eyed wonder to shrewd wisdom, rarely has been depicted so eloquently. Along the way Bradley meets colorful characters—rug hustlers and artisans—but none more engaging than the writer himself. Bold yet self-effacing, he has descriptive powers matching the glory of his subject. This book is as finely wrought and enchanting as the best Persian carpet."  — Daniel Mark Epstein, author of Constellations: Collected Poems