“In his best poems, Gioia rises to the occasion of all great poetry: to immortalize our experience by submitting it to the tests of tradition and inspiration. Anyone who really wants to know the answer to the question, 'Can poetry matter?' will find that The Gods of Winter is full of answers.” —Thomas D'Evelyn, The Christian Science Monitor

“In two exquisitely wrought books . . . he has already established himself as a poet with a permanent place in the canon of American poetry.” —Robert McPhillips, Verse

“The Gods of Winter is an important book, if only because it exemplifies Gioia's courageously aesthetic approach to poetry--to its language and rhythms. Fortunately for those of us who agree with him, it is also a good book. His poems are limpid, mellifluous, quotable and likely to be loved.” —Anne Stevenson, Poetry Wales