Poetry:
* "The Waste Land" by T.S. Eliot: Pound edited this seminal modernist poem, highlighting its innovative structure, fragmented language, and its exploration of disillusionment and cultural decline.
* "The Cantos" by Ezra Pound himself: This ambitious multi-volume poem is a testament to Pound's own pursuit of "freshness," with its diverse range of sources, languages, and historical references.
* "Hugh Selwyn Mauberley" by Ezra Pound: This collection of poems, reflecting on the decline of Western civilization, showcased Pound's experimental style and his use of Imagism, a movement he helped to pioneer.
* "The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock" by T.S. Eliot: The poem's innovative use of stream-of-consciousness and its exploration of modern alienation would have resonated with Pound's modernist sensibilities.
* "The Complete Poems" by William Butler Yeats: While Yeats was considered a symbolist, Pound admired his later work, which experimented with free verse and more direct expression.
* "The Red Wheelbarrow" by William Carlos Williams: Pound championed Williams's Imagist approach, valuing his focus on concrete details and clear language.
Prose:
* "Ulysses" by James Joyce: Pound was a strong advocate for Joyce's groundbreaking novel, praising its revolutionary stream-of-consciousness style and its exploration of the human psyche.
* "The Sun Also Rises" by Ernest Hemingway: Pound admired Hemingway's minimalist style, his focus on dialogue and action, and his exploration of the "Lost Generation."
* "The Great Gatsby" by F. Scott Fitzgerald: Pound recognized Fitzgerald's talent for capturing the American Dream and its disillusionment, as well as his lyrical prose.
* "The Jungle" by Upton Sinclair: While not a traditional modernist work, Pound admired Sinclair's social realism and his willingness to expose social injustices.
Other Considerations:
Pound was also known for his interest in ancient Greek and Chinese poetry, which he felt offered valuable lessons in directness and economy of language. He would likely have praised contemporary works that showed a similar appreciation for those qualities.
Ultimately, Ezra Pound's "freshness" was a complex concept, encompassing not only innovative form and style but also a commitment to intellectual rigor, cultural awareness, and a willingness to challenge traditional modes of thought. He was a champion of experimentation and originality, and his influence on modernist literature is undeniable.