The New Oxford Book of Sixteenth Century Verse

by EmrysJones (Editor)

• Used

  Hardcover
  1991

  $3.28

  The original Oxford Book of Sixteenth Century Verse was published nearly 60 years ago, in 1932. The literary taste that informed it was more Edwardian or late Victorian than modern, and in particular it reflected the lyricizing preferences of Palgrave's influential Golden Treasury (1861). In so doing, an image of the Elizabethan period as one of dainty pastorals and pretty love songs was reinforced, and a whole range of writing was ignored. Emrys Jones aims to rectify this imbalance in his new anthology by doing full justice to the great variety of poetic forms, including satirical, personal, topical and sometimes difficult poems. The 16th century was an age of transition, and in the realm of poetry, forms and styles change so radically that it is impossible to think of it as a literary entity. At the beginning of the century, Skelton looks back to Chaucer, while at the end of it, poets are writing social satires in heroic couplets that anticipate Dryden and Pope. In between come such different and distinct poets as Wyatt, Spenser, Sidney, Lyly, Ralegh, Harington, Shakespeare, Campion, Nashe, Donne, Marston, and Dekker. The texts are presented chronologically in order of composition, and extensive glossing helps to convey the richness of the language.

• Used

  Paperback
  1992

  $3.28

  In the realms of poetry, the 16th century began with Skelton echoing Chaucer and ended with social satires in heroic couplets that anticipated Dryden and Pope. This volume explores the full richness and diversity of Tudor poetry, from pastorals to ballads, lyrics to grotesqueries. Emrys Jones has included material never previously anthologized, translations that amount to original poems in themselves, and the masterworks of the poets who made this one of the greatest periods in English literature: Wyatt, Spenser, Lyly, Sidney, Ralegh, Harington, Shakespeare, Campion, Nashe, Donne, Marston and Dekker.

• New

  Paperback
  2009

  $29.13

  The sixteenth century has long been acknowledged the 'Golden Age' of English verse - with such names as Shakespeare, Donne, and Spenser to its credit it could hardly be otherwise. Yet this anthology, which includes both undisputed masterpieces and achievements in hitherto neglected fields, is the first to reveal the full range and diversity of the century's poetic riches. What emerges is the most complete picture available of the poetic vitality of the sixteenth century.