The Lives Of The Poets

The Lives Of The Poets

by Michael Schmidt (Author), Michael Schmidt (Author), Simon Shaw (Author)

Synopsis

Michael Schmidt surveys the rise of English poetry and the language itself from the Black Death to the court poetry of Chaucer and Sir Philip Sidney, the triumph of Marlowe and Shakespeare, the wit of Donne and Marvell, the urbane sophistication of Pope and Dr Johnson, the romanticism of Keats and Shelley, the questioning spirit of the Victorians and ending with the twentieth century, from T. S. Eliot and W. B. Yeats to Paul Muldoon and Thom Gunn. Each chapter combines commentary and quotation to acquaint the reader with the main themes of the poet's work, what his influences were, what the key works are, as well as bringing in from the margins some neglected voices. An indispensable book for all those interested in poetry who may not want to read an entire biography of a poet and for anyone studying poetry at school or university.

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More Information

Format: Paperback
Pages: 1104
Edition: New
Publisher: Phoenix
Published: 03 Jun 1999

ISBN 10: 0753807459
ISBN 13: 9780753807453
Book Overview: Received blanket review coverage on hardback publication Increasing popularity of poetry: Ted Hughes' Birthday Letters was a No.1 bestseller Radio series to coincide with hardback publication Hardback edition has already been reprinted 'The most extraordinary general literary performance of 1998... What I like most about this book is its sheer neck. ...A book to put into the hands of any young man or woman beginning to be aware of the glory of our language' The Scotsman 'Lives of the Poets is a seductive masterpiece, to be savoured alike for its vigilant profundity and for it sustained freshness. Who will do as much for prose fiction as Schmidt has for poetry?' Sunday Times.

Author Bio
Michael Schmidt is Professor of Poetry at the University of Glasgow. He edits the magazine PN Review and is the founder and editorial director of Carcanet Press. He has translated poems and essays by the Mexican writer Octavio Paz.