Literary studies: poetry and poets Books

Book SynopsisConfronted by natural and supernatural threats - shipwrecks, battles, monsters and the implacable enmity of the sea-god Poseidon - Odysseus must use his wit and native cunning if he is to reach his homeland safely and overcome the obstacles that, even there, await him.Trade Review“[Robert Fitzgerald’s translation is] a masterpiece . . . An Odyssey worthy of the original.” –The Nation “[Fitzgerald’s Odyssey and Iliad] open up once more the unique greatness of Homer’s art at the level above the formula; yet at the same time they do not neglect the brilliant texture of Homeric verse at the level of the line and the phrase.” –The Yale Review “[In] Robert Fitzgerald’s translation . . . there is no anxious straining after mighty effects, but rather a constant readiness for what the occasion demands, a kind of Odyssean adequacy to the task in hand, and this line-by-line vigilance builds up into a completely credible imagined world.” –from the Introduction by Seamus Heaney

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Book Synopsis"The seven 'essays' by J.R.R. Tolkien assembled in this paperback were with one exception delivered as general lectures on particular occasions; and while they mostly arose out of Tolkien's work in medieval literature, they are accessible to all. Two of them are concerned with Beowulf, including the well-known lecture whose title is taken for this book, and one with Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, given to the University of Glasgow in 1953. Also included in this volume is the lecture English and Welsh; the Valedictory Address to the University of Oxford in 1959; and a paper on invented languages delivered in 1931, with exemplification from poems in the Elvish tongues. Most famous of all is On Fairy-stories, a discussion of the nature of fairy-tales and fantasy, which gives insight into Tolkien's approach to the whole genre. The pieces in this collection cover a period of nearly thirty years, beginning six years before the publication of The Hobbit, with a unique 'academic' lecture on

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Book SynopsisThe translation of Beowulf by J.R.R. Tolkien was an early work, very distinctive in its mode, completed in 1926: he returned to it later to make hasty corrections, but seems never to have considered its publication. This edition is twofold, for there exists an illuminating commentary on the text of the poem by the translator himself, in the written form of a series of lectures given at Oxford in the 1930s; and from these lectures a substantial selection has been made, to form also a commentary on the translation in this book. From his creative attention to detail in these lectures there arises a sense of the immediacy and clarity of his vision. It is as if he entered into the imagined past: standing beside Beowulf and his men shaking out their mail-shirts as they beached their ship on the coast of Denmark, listening to the rising anger of Beowulf at the taunting of Unferth, or looking up in amazement at Grendel's terrible hand set under the roof of Heorot.Trade Review“This is long-awaited, and hugely exciting for Tolkien readers” The Guardian “If he had never written The Lord of the Rings he would have been famous in academic circles for writing one published lecture on Beowulf called The Monsters and the Critics. It turned things upside down. Beowulf was probably the medieval text that influenced him the most and the commentary and lectures are ‘nuggets of gold’”The Independent “A tantalising prospect. Tolkien’s translation of Sir Gawain is a master class in linguistic chicanery – Middle English meets Middle Earth… it will be interesting to see if it gives Heaney's Beowulf a run for its money”Simon Armitage, The Guardian

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Book SynopsisRainer Maria Rilke’s powerfully touching letters to an aspiring young poet.    At the start of the twentieth century, Rainer Maria Rilke wrote a series of letters to a young officer cadet, advising him on writing, love, sex, suffering, and the nature of advice itself. These profound and lyrical letters have since become hugely influential for generations of writers and artists of all kinds, including Lady Gaga and Patti Smith. With honesty, elegance, and a deep understanding of the loneliness that often comes with being an artist, Rilke’s letters are an endless source of inspiration and comfort. Lewis Hyde’s new introduction explores the context in which these letters were written and how the author embraced his isolation as a creative force. This edition also includes Rilke’s later work The Letter from the Young Worker.  For more than 80 years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature Trade Review...I cannot think of a better book to put into the hands of any young would-be poet, as an inspirational guide to poetry and to surviving as a poet in a hostile world. -- Harry Fainlight * The Times *

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Book SynopsisFrom the critically acclaimed poet and classicist Anne Carson: a brilliant new translation of the work of Sappho, together with the original Greek. During her life on the island of Lesbos, Sappho is said to have composed nine books of lyrics. Only one poem has survived complete. In IF NOT, WINTER, Carson presents all the extant fragments of Sappho's verse, employing brackets and white space to denote missing text - allowing the reader to imagine the poems as they were written. Carson says of her method of translation: 'I like to think that, the more I stand out of the way, the more Sappho shows through.' And certainly her translation illuminates Sappho's reflections on love and desire, her companions and rivals, the goddess Aphrodite, her own daughter, Kleis. IF NOT, WINTER gives us an extraordinary ancient poet brought alive by a brilliantly empathetic contemporary poet. Complete with Carson's introduction and notes, it will become the standard translation of Sappho for our time.Trade Reviewa superb version...these new poems, made by Carson out of Sappho, are subtle, beautiful, precise, moving. * Margaret Reynolds, THE TIMES *This collection of her [Sappho's] fragments gives you everything, for the first time... * INDEPENDENT ON SUNDAY *The beautiful blur of Sappho's work, the rhythms, the ornate grammar, the singing sounds she teases out of rare words...are impossible to match. * DAILY TELEGRAPH *Imaginatively presented and superbly prefaced, this collection is both heartrending and uplifiting. * INDEPENDENT *

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Book SynopsisPresents the work of one of America's greatest poets, increasingly recognised as one of the greatest English-language poets of the twentieth century, loved by poets and readers alike.Trade ReviewOne of the greatest poets of the twentieth century -- William Boyd * Guardian *When we read her, we enter the classical serenity of a new country -- Robert LowellIf ever there was a poet whose every scrap of writing should be in print, that poet must be Elizabeth Bishop -- Christopher Reid

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Book SynopsisExam Board: Pearson EdexcelLevel: AS/A-levelSubject: English literatureFirst teaching: September 2015First exams: Summer 2016 (AS); Summer 2017 (A-level)Enable students to achieve their best grade with this Pearson Edexcel AS/A-level English literature guide, designed to instil in-depth textual understanding as students read, analyse and revise the Poems of the Decade anthology throughout the course.This Study and Revise guide:- Increases students' knowledge of the Poems of the Decade anthology as they progress through the detailed commentary and contextual information written by experienced teachers and examiners- Develops understanding of characterisation, themes, form, structure and language, equipping students with a rich bank of textual examples to enhance their coursework and exam responses- Builds critical and analytical skills through challenging, thought-provoking questions and tasks that encourage students to form their own personal responses to the poems- Extends learning and prepares students for higher-level study by introducing critical viewpoints, comparative references to other literary works and suggestions for independent research- Helps students maximise their exam potential using clear explanations of the Assessment Objectives, sample student answers and examiner insights- Improves students' extended writing techniques through targeted advice on planning and structuring a successful essay

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Book Synopsis''Lorca brought an understanding of the paradox that was Spain - sensuality chafing under a rigid moral code, individual desire at war with tradition.'' Manuel DuranFederico García Lorca is perhaps the most celebrated of all twentieth-century Spanish writers, known not only for his plays but also for several collections of poems published both in his short lifetime and after. Lorca''s poetry is steeped in the land, climate, and folklore of his native Andalusia, though he writes memorably of New York and Cuba too. Often in modernist idiom, and full of startling imagery, he evokes a world of intense feelings, silent suffering, and dangerous love.This selection balances poems from Lorca''s early collections with his better-known work to give a clear vision of his poetic development. Martin Sorrell''s accomplished translations are complemented by D. Gareth Walters''s shrewd Introduction, with its distinctive focus on the achievements of the poet. ABOUT THE SERIES: For over 100 years Oxford

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Book SynopsisHesiod, who lived in Boetia in the late eighth century BC, is one of the oldest known, and possibly the oldest of Greek poets. His Theogony contains a systematic genealogy of the gods from the beginning of the world and an account of the struggles of the Titans. In contrast, Works and Days is a compendium of moral and practical advice on husbandry, and throws unique and fascinating light on archaic Greek society. As well as offering the earliest known sources for the myths of Pandora, Prometheus and the Golden Age, Hesiod''s poetry provides a valuable account of the ethics and superstitions of the society in which he lived. Unlike Homer, Hesiod writes about himself and his family, and he stands out as the first personality in European literature. This new translation, by a leading expert on the Hesiodic poems combines accuracy with readability. It is accompanied by an introduction and explanatory notes. ABOUT THE SERIES: For over 100 years Oxford World''s Classics has made available the widest range of literature from around the globe. Each affordable volume reflects Oxford''s commitment to scholarship, providing the most accurate text plus a wealth of other valuable features, including expert introductions by leading authorities, helpful notes to clarify the text, up-to-date bibliographies for further study, and much more.Trade Review'This is a very welcome publication, an authoritative translation of a major greek author at a reasonable price. Essential reading for classicists' J. G. Hourie, Dept. of Classics, University of Edinburgh' Readers who have no previous knowledge of Hesoid will find this an extremely accessible book, written in such a way that the non-specialist will be able to read, follow and enjoy these works. This is in part due to Professor West's excellent translations and partly due to his real and profound interest in his subject, which is further reflectd by a most informative and useful introduction.' The Greek Rreview'So much better than the corresponding Penguin translation of Hesiod. The introduction is splendid.' P. Walcot, University College, Cardiff.'The edition is admirably produced, mercifully free from misprints ... an edition with a stimulating Introduction, a very readable translation' JACT Review'West ... has now produced fine translations of these poems into fresh, lively and eminently readable English. It must quickly establish itself as the translation for English-speaking readers.' Jennifer R. March, University College, London. Classical Review

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Book SynopsisKing Arthur’s Death (commonly referred to as the Alliterative Morte Arthure) is a Middle English poem that was written in Lincolnshire at the end of the fourteenth century. A source work for Malory’s later Morte d’Arthur, it is an epic tale which documents the horrors of war, the loneliness of kingship and the terrible price paid for arrogance.This magnificent poem tells of the arrival of emissaries from Imperial Rome demanding that Arthur pays his dues as a subject. It is Arthur’s refusal to accept these demands, and the premise of foreign domination, which leads him on a quest to confront his foes and challenge them for command of his lands.Yet his venture is not without cost. His decision to leave Mordred at home to watch over his realm and guard Guinevere, his queen, proves to be a costly one. Though Arthur defeats the Romans, events in Britain draw him back where he must now face Mordred for control of his kingdom – a conflict ultimately fatal to the pair of them.Combining heroic action, probing insight into human frailty and a great attention to contemporary detail, King Arthur’s Death is not only a lesson in effective kingship, it is also an astonishing mirror on our own times, highlighting the folly of letting stubborn dogma drive political decisions.

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Book SynopsisIn this series, a contemporary poet selects and introduces a poet of the past. By their choice of poems and by the personal and critical reactions they express in their prefaces, the editors offer insights into their own work as well as providing an accessible and passionate introduction to some of the greatest poets in our literature.Ted Hughes (1930-98) was born in Yorkshire. His first book, The Hawk in the Rain, was published in 1957. His last collection, Birthday Letters, was published in 1998 and won the Whitbread Book of the Year, the Forward Prize and the T. S. Eliot Prize. He was appointed Poet Laureate in 1984 and appointed to the Order of Merit in 1998.

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Book Synopsis*BBC Radio 4 Book of the Week* Benjamin Zephaniah, who has travelled the world for his art and his humanitarianism, now tells the one story that encompasses it all: the story of his life. In the early 1980s when punks and Rastas were on the streets protesting about unemployment, homelessness and the National Front, Benjamin’s poetry could be heard at demonstrations, outside police stations and on the dance floor. His mission was to take poetry everywhere, and to popularise it by reaching people who didn’t read books. His poetry was political, musical, radical and relevant.  By the early 1990s, Benjamin had performed on every continent in the world (a feat which he achieved in only one year) and he hasn’t stopped performing and touring since. Nelson Mandela, after hearing Benjamin’s tribute to him while he was in prison, requested an introduction to the poet that grew into a lifelong relationship, inspiring BTrade Review'The Life and Rhymes has a performative quality reminiscent of Zephaniah’s poetry – honest, unshowy and ultimately unthreatening. It matches the man.' * The Guardian *'Vivid, frank and to the point, yet bristling with compassion, this is a rousing romp through a life less ordinary and a timely reminder of art’s redemptive force.' * Mojo magazine *‘Compelling and inspiring’ * Scottish Poetry Library *'His singular career has spanned poetry, music and activism, with detours into acting and academia. And he’s really lived a life less ordinary – from teenage jailbird to celebrity role model, embraced by the British Establishment, even if he hasn’t always reciprocated. His scepticism about the necessity of his memoir, The Life and Rhymes of Benjamin Zephaniah, is unfounded.' * The Scotsman *'His singular career has spanned poetry, music and activism, with detours into acting and academia. And he’s really lived a life less ordinary – from teenage jailbird to celebrity role model, embraced by the British Establishment, even if he hasn’t always reciprocated. His scepticism about the necessity of his memoir, The Life and Rhymes of Benjamin Zephaniah, is unfounded.' * The Scotsman *‘This is a beautifully penned and highly entertaining account of an intriguing life, opening us up not just to Zephaniah's story but to a wide range of topics arising out of it...tackled with down-to-earth honesty and insight, not to mention an element of gentle humour and self-effacement.’ * Morning Star *'The people’s laureate' * Birmingham Mail *‘A celebration of a truly extraordinary life story which remarks upon the power of poetry and the importance of pushing boundaries with the arts.’ * Shropshire Star *'Retaining a humility and humour that belie his extraordinary rise from street gang to cultural touchstone…Zephaniah is one of the rare voices that manages to remain determinedly outside the Establishment (he famously turned down an OBE) yet is embraced by it...a riveting read worthy of a Netflix drama.' * iNews *'Filled with extraordinary moments, taking in his first poetry performance in a church aged 10, his time in borstal and prison, and his stint in a gang when he feared for his life and slept with a gun under his pillow. He was framed by the police for murder, turned his life around to the extent that he developed a friendship with Nelson Mandela – and his words helped usher in freedom in South Africa. But the book is also a searing social history of Britain and a salutary reminder that when it comes to the fight for racial equality, there is no end bell.' * Big Issue North *'Zephaniah pulls no punches when it comes to talking about the racism that has shaped his life or the mischief he got up to in response to it.' * The Spectator *

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Book Synopsis“A revelation. Never have I been so aware at once of the beauty of the poetry, the physicality of Homer’s world, and the moral ambiguity of those who inhabit it.” —Susan Chira, The New York Times Book Review, “New & Noteworthy"

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Book SynopsisAs Malcolm Cowley says in his introduction, the first edition of Leaves of Grass ''might be called the buried masterpiece of American writing'', for it exhibits ''Whitman at his best, Whitman at his freshest in vision and boldest in language, Whitman transformed by a new experience.'' Mr Cowley has taken the first edition from its narrow circulation among scholars, faithfully edited it, added his own introduction and Whitman''s original introduction (which never appeared in any other edition during Whitman''s life), and returned it to the common readership to whom the great poet really speaks.Trade Review“Whitman, the great poet, has meant so much to me. Whitman the one man breaking a way ahead. Whitman the one pioneer . . . Ahead of Whitman, nothing. Ahead of all poets, pioneering into the wilderness of unopened life, Whitman. Beyond him, none.” —D. H. Lawrence

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Book SynopsisAmerican poet Emily Dickinson is revered around the world, and influenced many feminist artists and writers. Her work is some of the best known and most quoted or adapted:''Hope is the thing with feathers, that perches in the soul, and sings the tune without the words, and never stops at all'' Emily DickinsonDickinson received a very good education, but chose to return home to Amherst, Massachusetts, where she spent the rest of her life, writing more than a poem a day until her death. Her refusal to compromise her highly condensed expression meant that only a tiny fraction of her work was published in her lifetime. Even today, her work feels startlingly modern:''Dogs are better than human beings because they know but do not tell'' Emily Dickinson''The dearest ones of time, the strongest friends of the soul - BOOKS''This is a superb collection from a truly iconic poet.

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Book SynopsisA new cover reissue of AND STILL I RISE, first published in 1986, from Maya Angelou, one of the most celebrated writers and poets of the world.Trade ReviewA brilliant writer, a fierce friend and a truly phenomenal woman -- President Barack ObamaThe poems and stories she wrote . . . were gifts of wisdom and wit, courage and grace -- President Bill ClintonShe moved through the world with unshakeable calm, confidence and a fierce grace . . . She will always be the rainbow in my clouds -- Oprah WinfreyShe was important in so many ways. She launched African American women writing in the United States. She was generous to a fault. She had nineteen talents - used ten. And was a real original. There is no duplicate -- Toni MorrisonAngelou was the first poet since Robert Frost to recite work at a presidential inauguration. And Still I Rise is a tribute to determination, from the title poem to the anthemic "Phenomenal Woman", which sounds like something that Beyoncé could set to music -- Stig Abell * The Times *

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Book SynopsisRobert Frost was born in San Francisco in 1874. After the death of his father he moved with his mother and sister to Massachusetts. His first collection, A Boy's Will, was published in 1913. In 1924 he won the first of four Pulitzer Prizes for his fourth book, New Hampshire. In the 1930s, as he became ever more revered, he suffered a series of family tragedies: his youngest child Marjorie died in 1934, his wife Elinor in 1938, and his son Carol in 1940. Another daughter, Irma, suffered from mental illness. Frost's last major collection, A Witness Tree (1942), contains a number of poems reflecting these disasters. In 1957 Robert Frost received honorary degrees from the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge. He died in January 1963.Trade ReviewThe most eminent, the most distinguished Anglo-American poet now living -- T. S. EliotFrost was the first American poet who could honestly be reckoned a master-poet by world standards -- Robert GravesRobert Frost has passed into the poetic pantheon * Independent *Of all the poetry written in our generation, Frost's is most likely to stand the test of time * Lewis Gannett *

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Book SynopsisLeonard Cohen made his name as a poet before he came to worldwide attention as a singer and songwriter. This collection of his poetry was written in Montreal, Mumbai and during his retirement in Mt Baldy.

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Book SynopsisA THE TIMES BOOK OF THE YEAR 2019''The best introduction to the plays I''ve read, perhaps the best book on Shakespeare, full stop'' Alex Preston, Observer''It makes you impatient to see or re-read the plays at once'' Hilary MantelA genius and prophet whose timeless works encapsulate the human condition like no others. A writer who surpassed his contemporaries in vision, originality and literary mastery. Who wrote like an angel, putting it all so much better than anyone else.Is this Shakespeare? Well, sort of.But it doesn''t really tell us the whole truth. So much of what we say about Shakespeare is either not true, or just not relevant, deflecting us from investigating the challenges of his inconsistencies and flaws. This electrifying new book thrives on revealing, not resolving, the ambiguities of Shakespeare''s plays and their changing topicality. It introduces an intellectually, theatrically and ethically exciting writer who engages with intersectionality as much as with Ovid, with economics as much as poetry: who writes in strikingly modern ways about individual agency, privacy, politics, celebrity and sex. It takes us into a world of politicking and copy-catting, as we watch him emulating the blockbusters of Christopher Marlowe and Thomas Kyd, the Spielberg and Tarantino of their day; flirting with and skirting round the cut-throat issues of succession politics, religious upheaval and technological change. The Shakespeare in this book poses awkward questions rather than offering bland answers, always implicating us in working out what it might mean.This is Shakespeare. And he needs your attention.Trade ReviewThe best introduction to the plays I've read, perhaps the best book on Shakespeare, full stop. This is a model of unpretentious, deeply researched, profoundly approachable criticism. It's a book to give to anyone who loves Shakespeare, but particularly to those who think they don't ... What This Is Shakespeare gives the reader most of all, though, is a licence to enjoy the plays without the cultural and historical baggage they so often carry -- Alex Preston * Observer *The question that hangs over every new book on Shakespeare is, "Why read this one?" The short answer is, because it is very good indeed. There is no shortage of eminent Shakespeare scholars, and in her role as professor of Shakespeare studies at Oxford, Smith certainly ranks among them; but more importantly for a book like this, she is perhaps the pre-eminent Shakespeare communicator working today ... This is Shakespeare cuts through the accumulated crust of "schoolroom platitudes", cant and literary piety in order to dust Shakespeare off and see him as he is, was, and might be -- Tim Smith-Laing * Daily Telegraph *I like this book very much. It explains accessibly, with learning lightly worn, why Shakespeare retains such a hold in our culture. Smith has done an exemplary job of restoring the greatest of English writers to his own time, and explaining why he then speaks to ours ... An invigorating examination of the pre-eminence of the most revered figure of English letters -- Oliver Kamm * The Times *Quirky, brilliant ... what's most bracing about Smith's book is the way she sees the plays as almost organic: not only contradictory but alive -- Daniel Swift * Spectator *This is Shakespeare wears its learning very lightly, although there are clear signs of that learning in every chapter ... Sane, sensible and suitably woke ... original and provocative analysis -- Lisa Hopkins * Times Higher Education *Thought-provoking, fizzing with jokes ... Smith is celebrating a Shakespeare who talks to the present. She does it all with such a light touch you barely notice how much you're learning ... Anyone who doesn't understand what the fuss is all about should read This Is Shakespeare -- Colin Burrow * Guardian *An outstanding book ... a distillation of intricate conceptual and textual cruces into readable prose ... lively and unexpectedly moving ... curious and passionate ... [It reminds me] why I came to enjoy Shakespeare so much in the first place -- Sophie Duncan * Literary Review *Intriguing ... Smith argues that the defining characteristic of Shakespeare's plays is their 'permissive gappiness'. This must also surely be the first book on Shakespeare to use the slang term 'woke' * Evening Standard *A joy to read, full of questions, surprises, and new ideas. Smith brings us remarkable new readings of Shakespeare, and a sense of how his work lives on the stage. A wonderful book -- Margaret DrabbleIf I were asked to recommend one guide for readers keen on discovering what's at stake in Shakespeare's plays, This Is Shakespeare would be it. Deeply informed, never dogmatic, and alert to how performance matters, Emma Smith understands that Shakespeare's plays prompt questions rather than provide answers. Her elegantly written and sharply observed book is richly rewarding. -- James Shapiro, author of 1599: A Year in the Life of William ShakespeareA fascinating new perspective and an absolute pleasure to read -- Eimear McBride, author of A Girl is a Half-formed ThingImpeccable ... This is Shakespeare is the ideal book of its moment for unlocking the works of that most miraculous, mysterious and be-pedestalled figure in English literature [...] Smith's fresh approaches reveal something crucial about Shakespeare's ongoing relevance * The Saturday Paper *There's an invigorating frankness to Smith's approach [...] She generously leads an accessible and insightful route towards a provocative, complicating reading of Shakespeare's work. * GLOBE Magazine *Shakespeare pulled from his pedestal and made contemporary...this book is terrific...informative and, more importantly, very enjoyable * This England *Smith salvages Shakespeare from the status of isolated genius, and reveals him as an active participant in his own time and place. In turn, we the audience become active participants in the remaking of Shakespeare...This book puts the pleasure back into the plays, and there is no better reason to read about Shakespeare than that -- Sarah Ditum * The Lancet *Packed with sharp observations and illuminating commentary on the works and their afterlives...acute on the plays' modern resonances and how today's theatre troupes handle Will's less woke moments, such as The Taming of the Shrew. They won't cancel Shakey yet! * The Times Books of the Year 2019 *A brilliant and accessible tour of Shakespeare's plays that is also a radical manifesto for how to read and watch his work. Witty, irreverent and searching, this book shines dazzling new light on the oeuvre of the world's greatest literary genius. * Economist Books of the Year *A tonic ... This Is Shakespeare will, for some time to come, remain required reading for all those with more than a passing interest in Shakespeare ... ['Gappiness' is] a compelling way of evaluating afresh an author about whom we are often told that everything has been said ... Outstanding ... A model for almost everything that Shakespeare criticism for the general reader should be striving to achieve -- Rhodri Lewis * Prospect *Consistently fascinating [...] there's no denying the wit and intelligence [...] nor the dangerous readability of this thoughtful study. -- Alexander Larman * Observer *Read this and you will be seduced -- Val McDermid (Radio 4, A Good Read)Praise for previous works by Emma Smith "Emma Smith is a courteous and helpful guide who wears her considerable learning lightly in this enjoyable, well-conceived, well-written book" -- Andrew Hadfield * Irish Times *Praise for previous works by Emma Smith: "A fascinating and provocative book" -- Daniel Swift * Spectator *Praise for previous works by Emma Smith: "Delightful... there is a bite in Smith's exuberant tales of buying, selling and displaying Shakespeare... beautifully judged, impeccably researched yet wry and affectionate" -- Jerry Brotton * Financial Times *Praise for previous works by Emma Smith "Brilliantly approachable and entertaining ... anarchic, counterintuitive, critical ... perfect" -- Alex Preston * Observer *Praise for previous works by Emma Smith "Delightful" * Telegraph *

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Book SynopsisShakespeare and Lost Plays returns Shakespeare''s dramatic work to its most immediate and (arguably) pivotal context; by situating it alongside the hundreds of plays known to Shakespeare''s original audiences, but lost to us. David McInnis reassesses the value of lost plays in relation to both the companies that originally performed them, and to contemporary scholars of early modern drama. This innovative study revisits key moments in Shakespeare''s career and the development of his company and, by prioritising the immense volume of information we now possess about lost plays, provides a richer, more accurate picture of dramatic activity than has hitherto been possible. By considering a variety of ways to grapple with the problem of lost, imperceptible, or ignored texts, this volume presents a methodology for working with lacunae in archival evidence and the distorting effect of Shakespeare-centric narratives, thus reinterpreting our perception of the field of early modern drama.Trade Review'This is an exceptionally innovative book championing the brand new methodologies and discoveries associated with lost plays that the author and his collaborators have brought to the profession. It would be hard to think of a more groundbreaking work than this, and it will be necessary reading for all scholars of early modern drama, any cultural historians who find themselves confronting the issue of evidential loss, as well as students of these various fields.' Andy Kesson, University of Roehampton, London'This is a well-conceived, skilfully argued, and constantly astonishing book. Its object is to insist on the importance of a study of lost plays so as better to understand the canonical plays we have been too complacent about. It will impact substantially on Shakespeare studies, on Early Modern theatre studies more widely, on authorship determination, and on more general literary and historical studies. Shakespeare and Lost Plays is an outstanding publication.' David Carnegie, Victoria University of Wellington'A fascinating work of literary detection.' Gordon Parsons, Morning Star'The moments of brilliant speculation about enigmas such as Spanish Maze and Felmelanco are the heart of McInnis's work because they display not only superb research skills but also impressive synaptic leaps; at such moments, one feels one is reading both a scholar and a poet. Overall, this is a wonderful book that opens the imagination and proves the vitality and the value of the study of lost plays.' David Nicol, British Shakespeare Association's Journal'Anyone interested in researching historical writing, English or otherwise, would benefit from reading this book, to help us deal with the loss of sources, and to learn how to complicate and enrich our reading and understanding of the texts that did survive.' Sonja Kleij, English Studies'McInnis's study is generous and hopefully generative, and it deserves the kind of careful engagement it offers to its subject. McInnis sheds light on understudied plays and he finds exciting connections, never before identified, some of which in turn allow for a different perspective on individual Shakespeare plays and on his career and early afterlife. But above all, McInnis models an approach to scholarship that promises to yield further insights. This refreshing book, which balances meticulous attention to detail with imagination and creativity, deserves to be widely read.' Eoin Price, Early Theatre'The potential impact of McInnis's ground-breaking study is unlikely to be lost on readers … Shakespeare and Lost Plays opens up numerous explorative avenues for future investigations, and I have no doubt that it will be preserved in the annals of academic history as a seminal work' Jones, Bücherschau'This is a productive and helpful enterprise, which McInnis reaches through a series of skillful, careful, and innovative readings … This refreshing book, which balances meticulous attention to detail with imagination and creativity, deserves to be widely read. That the book is relatively inexpensive for a new academic hardback should help it get the attention it deserves.' Eoin Price, Early TheatreTable of ContentsIntroduction; 1. Charting the landscape of loss; 2. Early Shakespeare: 1594-98; 3. Shakespeare at the turn of the century, 1599-1603; 4. Courting controversy: Shakespeare and the king's men, 1604-08; 5. Late Shakespeare: 1609-13; 6. Loose canons: the lost Shakespeare apocrypha; Conclusion.

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Book SynopsisMark Doty has always felt haunted by Walt Whitman’s bold, new American voice, and by his equally radical claims about body and soul and what it means to be a self. In What Is the Grass, Doty – a poet, a lover of men, a New Yorker, and an American – keeps company with Whitman and his mutable, landmark work, Leaves of Grass, tracing the resonances between his own experience and the legendary poet’s life and work.What is it, then, between us? Whitman asks. Doty’s answer is to explore spaces tied to Whitman’s life and spaces where he finds the poet’s ghost, meditating on desire, love, and the mysterious wellsprings of the poet’s enduring work. How does a voice survive death? What Is the Grass is a conversation across time and space, a study of the astonishment one poet finds in the accomplishment of another, and an attempt to grasp Whitman’s deeply hopeful vision of humanity.Trade ReviewDoty is an extraordinarily fine writer whose every word sings on the page… There certainly couldn’t be a more appropriate explorer [of Whitman] than Doty, as both a leading North American poet and a memoirist and prose writer of exceptional grace and depth… This is an exceptional, passionate memoir of reading, and of a poet’s lifelong work of understanding self and the world. -- Fiona Sampson * Spectator *Mark Doty's deeply personal love letter to Walt Whitman, belongs in the pantheon...beside Ted Hughes’s Shakespeare and the Goddess of Complete Being and Don Paterson’s Reading Shakespeare’s Sonnets… As admirers of his poetry and memoirs will know, Doty writes about his life with a rare warmth and candour. He makes you lean forward to listen… He reads with care, in the sense of both attentiveness and love. -- Tristram Fane Saunders * Daily Telegraph *Marvellous. He sends you straight back to the text, makes you feel like you're returning to an old love... In a fit of enchantment. -- Abhrajyoti Chakraborty * Guardian *Doty is one of the most compelling modern singers of 'the body electric' and in What is the Grass he has produced an elegant meditation on the great founding father of American poetry... Doty helps us feel the touch and connection of great art afresh. It is a warmly affecting performance. -- David Wheatley * Literary Review *Mark Doty has written a warm and intelligent account of Whitman... [Doty's] poems are a highly engaging mixture of the quotidian and the numinous. -- Seamus Perry * Times Literary Supplement *

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Book SynopsisThe modern, unacademic idiom of A.D. Melville's translation opens the way to a fresh understanding of Ovid's unique and elusive vision of reality.Trade Review`This translation will quickly establish itself as _the_ transation for English speaking readers and students of this great Augustan epic.' Dr A.H.F. Griffin, University of Exeter'a work of the highest quality which provides pleasure and information in generous measure.' JACT Review

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Book SynopsisFor the first time, Faber publish a selection from the poetry of Philip Larkin. Drawing on Larkin''s four collections and on his uncollected poems. Chosen by Martin Amis.''Many poets make us smile; how many poets make us laugh - or, in that curious phrase, laugh out loud (as if there''s another way of doing it)? Who else uses an essentially conversational idiom to achieve such a variety of emotional effects? Who else takes us, and takes us so often, from sunlit levity to mellifluous gloom?... Larkin, often, is more than memorable: he is instantly unforgettable.'' - Martin Amis

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Book SynopsisPrize-winning poet Ruth Padel is renowned as a guide to understanding today''s poetry. Her much-loved 52 Ways of Looking at a Poem introduced the contemporary poetry scene and discussed individual poems. Her new book, invaluable for all who want to write as well as read poems, reveals the journey of thought, language and music within sixty more poems and also shows how poems fortify us on the journey of our lives, in a collection of essays written in elegant, accessible prose.Trade ReviewIt's a generous, likable, diligent and smart piece of work -- Andrew Motion * Guardian *Ruth Padel is Virgil in the 'Inferno' of poetry. She guides the reader gently and deftly on the journey... This is much more than a book about poetry, this is a handbook for living! -- Fiona ShawBrilliant... Padel draws on a huge range of references to make a powerful case for poetry as a living art form * Independent *As a writer you would probably choose Ruth Padel as your ideal reader. Her eye misses very little of the nudging and winking that goes on in a poem, and she seems able to tune into the silent music of text on the page...she finds more than most to engage with and enjoy -- Simon ArmitageAn enlivening, illuminating book, lucid, accessible and probing * The Times *

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Book SynopsisWhat should I read next?' Alex Johnson invites you to join him on his year of reading Welshly on a warm and witty journey through 52 books from Wales and about Wales.From novels to poetry to non-fiction, Alex explores a rich and eclectic spread of books. Covering famous favourites such as Dylan Thomas's Under Milk Wood and Oliver Postgate and Peter Firmin's Ivor the Engine, through to contemporary hits such as Manon Steffan Ros's The Blue Book of Nebo and Tiffany Murray's My Family and Other Rock Stars, Alex's Reading Welshly' list spans decades and genres. It's not just about mines and farming (though there are plenty of those), but a window onto Welsh culture in all its complexity and diversity. Discover with Alex how Welsh books both reveal modern Wales and speak to universal themes of love, social struggle and identity.Complete with discussion questions about each book and space to chart your own Reading Welshly progress, this is the ideal companion for readers and book groups to discover Wales through its rich and varied literature.

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Book SynopsisExplore the essence of life, love, nature, and time in exquisite verse with this elegantly designed edition of Emily Dickinson’s finest poems. Born in 1830 in Amherst, Massachusetts, to a prominent New England family and educated at Amherst Academy and Mt. Holyoke Female Seminary, Emily Elizabeth Dickinson lived most of her life in seclusion, devoted to writing. She scarcely left home, nor did she have many visitors. Only ten of her poems were published in her lifetime, submitted without her permission by friends. It was only after her death in 1886 that the scope of her work as a poet came to light—over 1,700 poems were discovered in a dresser drawer by her sister, Lavinia. Emily Dickinson’s poems reflect her loneliness, as well as her love of nature, the influence of the Metaphysical poets of seventeenth century England, and her strong Puritan religious beliefs. Yet, it is her use of language, form, and the deceptive simplicity of her verse that categorize her as an important force in nineteenth century American letters and, along with Walt Whitman, a founder of a distinctly American voice in modern poetry. PRELUDE THIS is my letter to the world, That never wrote to me,— That simple news that Nature told, With tender majesty. Her message is committed To hands I cannot see; For love of her, sweet countrymen, Judge tenderly of me! The Timeless Classics series from Rock Point brings together the works of classic authors from around the world. Complete and unabridged, these elegantly designed gift editions feature luxe, patterned endpapers, ribbon markers, and foil and deboss details on vibrantly colored cases. Celebrate these beloved works of literature as true standouts in your personal library collection. Table of ContentsContents introduction xxvii poems. 1890. prelude book i. life. success “our share of the night to bear. . .” rouge et noir rouge gagne “glee! the great storm is over. . .” “if i can stop one heart from breaking. . .” almost! “a wounded dear leaps highest. . .” “the heart asks pleasure first. . .” in a library “much madness is divinest sense. . .” “i asked no other thing. . .” exclusion the secret the lonely house “to fight aloud is very brave. . .” dawn the book of martyrs the mystery of pain “i taste a liquor never brewed. . .” a book “i had no time to hate, because. . .” unreturning “whether my bark went down at sea. . .” “belshazzar had a letter. . .” “the brain within its groove. . .” book ii. love. mine bequest “alter? when the hills do. . .” suspense surrender “if you were coming in the fall. . .” with a flower proof “have you got a brook in your little heart?” transplanted the outlet in vain renunciation love’s baptism resurrection apocalypse the wife apotheosis book iii. nature. “new feet within my garden go. . .” may-flower why? “perhaps you’d like to buy a flower. . .” “the pedigree of honey. . .” a service of song “the bee is not afraid of me. . .” summer’s armies the grass “a little road not made of man. . .” summer shower psalm of the day the sea of sunset purple clover the bee “presentiment is that long shadow on the lawn. . .” “as children bid the guest good-night. . .” “angels in the early morning. . .” “so bashful when i spied her. . .” two worlds the mountain a day “the butterfly’s assumption-gown. . .” the wind death and life “’twas later when the summer went. . .” indian summer autumn beclouded the hemlock “there’s a certain slant of light. . .” book iv. time and eternity. “one dignity delays for all. . .” too late astra castra “safe in their alabaster chambers. . .” “on this long storm the rainbow rose. . .” from the chrysalis setting sail “look back on time with kindly eyes. . .” “a train went through a burial gate. . .” “i died for beauty, but was scarce. . .” troubled about many things real the funeral “i went to thank her. . .” “i’ve seen a dying eye. . .” refuge “i never saw a moor. . .” playmates “to know just how he suffered would be dear. . .” “the last night that she lived. . .” the first lesson “the bustle in a house. . .” “i reason, earth is short. . .” “afraid? of whom am i afraid?” dying “two swimmers wrestled on the spar. . .” the chariot “she went as quiet as the dew. . .” resurgam “except to heaven she is nought. . .” “death is a dialogue between. . .” “it was too late for man. . .” along the potomac “the daisy follows soft the sun. . .” emancipation lost “if i shouldn’t be alive. . .” “sleep is supposed to be. . .” “i shall know why when time is over. . .” “i never lost as much but twice. . .” poems. 1891. “my nosegays are for captives. . .” book i. life. “i’m nobody! who are you?” “i bring an unaccustomed wine. . .” “the nearest dream recedes, unrealized. . .” “we play at paste. . .” “i found the phrase to every thought. . .” hope the white heat triumph the test escape compensation the martyrs a prayer “the thought beneath so slight a film. . .” “the soul unto itself. . .” “surgeons must be very careful. . .” the railway train the show “delight becomes pictorial. . .” “a thought went up my mind today. . .” “is heaven a physician?” the return “a poor torn heart, a tattered heart. . .” too much shipwreck “victory comes late. . .” enough “experiment to me. . .” my country’s wardrobe “faith is fine invention. . .” “except the heaven had come so near. . .” “portraits are to daily faces. . .” the duel “a shady friend for torrid days. . .” the goal sight “talk with prudence to a beggar. . .” the preacher “good night! which put the candle out?” “when i hoped i feared. . .” deed time’s lesson remorse the shelter “undue significance a starving man attaches. . .” “heart not so heavy as mine. . .” “i many times thought peace had come. . .” “unto my books so good to turn. . .” “this merit hath the worst. . .” hunger “i gained it so. . .” “to learn the transport by the pain. . .” returning prayer “i know that he exists. . .” melodies unheard called back book ii. love. choice “i have no life but this. . .” “your riches taught me poverty. . .” the contract the letter “the way i read a letter’s this. . .” “wild nights! wild nights!” at home 89 possession “a charm invests a face. . .” the lovers “in lands i never saw, they say. . .” “the moon is distant from the sea. . .” “he put the belt around my life. . .” the lost jewel “what if i say i shall not wait?” book iii. nature. mother nature out of the morning “at half-past three a single bird. . .” day’s parlor the sun’s wooing the robin the butterfly’s day the bluebird april the sleeping flowers my rose the oriole’s secret the oriole in shadow the humming-bird secrets “who robbed the woods. . .” two voyagers by the sea old-fashioned a tempest the sea in the garden the snake the mushroom the storm the spider “i know a place where summer strives. . .” “the one that could repeat the summer day. . .” the wind’s visit “nature, rarer uses yellow. . .” gossip simplicity storm the rat “frequently the woods are pink. . .” a thunder-storm with flowers sunset “she sweeps with many-colored brooms. . .” “like mighty footlights burned the red. . .” problems the juggler of day my cricket “as imperceptibly as grief. . .” “it can’t be summer,—that got through. . .” summer’s obsequies fringed gentian november the snow the bluejay book iv. time and eternity. “let down the bars, o death!” “going to heaven!” “at least to pray is left, is left. . .” epitaph “morns like these we parted. . .” “a death-blow is a life-blow to some. . .” “i read my sentence steadily. . .” “i have not told my garden yet. . .” the battle-field “the only ghost i ever saw. . .” “some, too fragile for winter winds. . .” “as by the dead we love to sit. . .” memorials “i went to heaven. . .” “their height in heaven comforts not. . .” “there is a shame of nobleness. . .” triumph “pompless no life can pass away. . .” “i noticed people disappeared. . .” following “if anybody’s friend be dead. . .” the journey a country burial going “essential oils are wrung. . .” “i lived on dread; to those who know. . .” “if i should die. . .” at length ghosts vanished precedence gone requiem “what inn is this. . .” “it was not death, for i stood up. . .” till the end void “a throe upon the features. . .” saved! “i think just how my shape will rise. . .” the forgotten grave “lay this laurel on the one. . .” poems. 1896. “’tis all i have to bring today. . .” book i. life. real riches superiority to fate hope forbidden fruit (i) forbidden fruit (ii) a word “to venerate the simple days. . .” life’s trades “drowning is not so pitiful. . .” “how still the bells in steeples stand. . .” “if the foolish call them ‘flowers’. . .” a syllable parting aspiration the inevitable a book “who has not found the heaven below. . .” a portrait i had a guinea golden saturday afternoon “few get enough,—enough is one. . .” “upon the gallows hung a wretch. . .” the lost thought reticence with flowers “the farthest thunder that i heard. . .” “on the bleakness of my lot. . .” contrast friends fire a man ventures griefs “i have a king who does not speak. . .” disenchantment lost faith lost joy “i worked for chaff, and earning wheat. . .” “life, and death, and giants. . .” alpine glow remembrance “to hang our head ostensibly. . .” the brain “the bone that has no marrow. . .” the past “to help our bleaker parts. . .” “what soft, cherubic creatures. . .” desire philosophy power “a modest lot, a fame petite. . .” “in bliss, then, such abyss. . .” experience thanksgiving day childish griefs book ii. love. consecration love’s humility love satisfied with a flower song loyalty “to lose thee, sweeter than to gain. . .” “poor little heart!” forgotten “i’ve got an arrow here. . .” the master “heart, we will forget him!” “father, i bring thee not myself. . .” “we outgrow love like other things. . .” “not with a club the heart is broken. . .” who? “he touched me, so i live to know. . .” dreams numen lumen longing wedded book iii. nature. nature’s changes the tulip “a light exists in spring. . .” the waking year to march march dawn “a murmur in the trees to note. . .” “morning is the place for dew. . .” “to my quick ear the leaves conferred. . .” a rose “high from the earth i heard a bird. . .” cobwebs a well “to make a prairie it takes a clover. . .” the wind “a dew sufficed itself. . .” the woodpecker a snake “could i but ride indefinite. . .” the moon the bat the balloon evening cocoon sunset aurora the coming of night aftermath book iv. time and eternity. “this world is not conclusion. . .” “we learn in the retreating. . .” “they say that ‘time assuages’. . .” “we cover thee, sweet face. . .” “that is solemn we have ended. . .” “the stimulus, beyond the grave. . .” “given in marriage unto thee. . .” “that such have died enables us. . .” “they won’t frown always,—some sweet day. . .” immortality “the distance that the dead have gone. . .” “how dare the robins sing. . .” death unwarned “each that we lose takes part of us. . .” “not any higher stands the grave. . .” asleep the spirit the monument “bless god, he went as soldiers. . .” “immortal is an ample word. . .” “where every bird is bold to go. . .” “the grave my little cottage is. . .” “this was in the white of the year. . .” “sweet hours have perished here. . .” “me! come! my dazzled face. . .” invisible “i wish i knew that woman’s name. . .” trying to forget “i felt a funeral in my brain. . .” “i meant to find her when i came. . .” waiting “a sickness of this world it most occasions. . .” “superfluous were the sun. . .” “so proud she was to die. . .” farewell “the dying need but little, dear. . .” dead “the soul should always stand ajar. . .” “three weeks passed since i had seen her. . . “i breathed enough to learn the trick. . .” “i wonder if the sepulchre. . .” joy in death “if i may have it when it’s dead. . .” “before the ice is in the pools. . .” dying “adrift! a little boat adrift!” “there’s been a death in the opposite house. . .” “we never know we go,—when we are going. . .” the soul’s storm “water is taught by thirst. . .” thirst “a clock stopped—not the mantel’s. . .” charlotte brontë’s grave “a toad can die of light. . .” “far from love the heavenly father. . .” sleeping retrospect eternity

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Book Synopsis''Nowhere, beloved, can world be but within us''Rainer Maria Rilke (1875-1926) is one of the leading poets of European Modernism, and one of the greatest twentieth-century lyric poets in German. From The Book of Hours in 1905 to the Sonnets of Orpheus written in 1922, his poetry explores themes of death, love, and loss. He strives constantly to interrogate the relationship between his art and the world around him, moving from the neo-romantic and the mystic towards the precise craft of expressing the everyday in poetry.This bilingual edition fully reflects Rilke''s poetic development. It contains the full text of the Duino Elegies and the Sonnets to Orpheus, selected poems from The Book of Images, New Poems, and earlier volumes, and from the uncollected poetry 1906-26. The translations are accurate, sensitive, and nuanced, and are accompanied by an introduction and notes that elucidate Rilke''s poetic practice and his central role in modern poetry. ABOUT THE SERIES: For over 100 years Oxford World''s Classics has made available the widest range of literature from around the globe. Each affordable volume reflects Oxford''s commitment to scholarship, providing the most accurate text plus a wealth of other valuable features, including expert introductions by leading authorities, helpful notes to clarify the text, up-to-date bibliographies for further study, and much more.Trade ReviewA masterly introduction to Rilke ... a representative and well-judged assortment of poems, both familiar and uncollected ... a wealth of excellent and thoughtful notes * The Brown Book *Table of ContentsSELECTED EARLY POEMS; THE BOOK OF HOURS (SELECTIONS); THE BOOK OF IMAGES (SELECTIONS); NEW POEMS (SELECTIONS); UNCOLLECTED POEMS (SELECTIONS); SONNETS TO ORPHEUS (COMPLETE); DUINO ELEGIES (COMPLETE)

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Book SynopsisEvery day from nine to five I sit at my desk facing the door of the office and type up other people's dreamsAn office assistant in a hospital pursues a secret vocation. A girl endures a series of initiation ceremonies to join her high school sorority. A married woman seeks relief from the dull realities of daily life. From her mid-teens Sylvia Plath wrote stories, twenty-four of which are collected here, along with works of journalism and extracts from her journal. All the pieces presented here are revealing . . . It ought to round out one's knowledge of the writer, and, perhaps, offer some surprises. Luckily it does both.' Margaret Atwood, New York TimesA beautiful, delicate, commanding poet.' Lena DunhamShe embodied a seismic shift in consciousness which enabled us to feel and think as we do today, and of which she was a supremely vulnerable and willing casualty. She changed our world.' Margaret Drabble, Guardian

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Book SynopsisIn her first collection in five years, Anne Carson contemplates ''decreation'' - an activity described by Simone Weil as ''undoing the creature in us'' - an undoing of self. But how can we undo self without moving through self, to the very inside of its definition? Where else can we start?Anne Carson''s Decreation starts with form - the undoing of form. Form is various here: opera libretto, screenplay, poem, oratorio, essay, list, montage. The undoing is tender, but tenderness can change everything, or so the author appears to believe.By turns exhilarating and bewildering, lucid and hermetic, Anne Carson is a maverick with a thrilling range of skills. As Charles Simic says, ''Carson takes risks, subverts literary conventions, and plays havoc with our expectations. She is a wonder: an unconventional, often difficult poet who has a huge following among today''s readers of poetry and whose work has been honoured with our most prestigious literary awards.''

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Book SynopsisIs it ever possible to know 'the truth' about Sylvia Plath and her marriage to Ted Hughes, which ended with her suicide? In The Silent Woman, renowned writer Janet Malcolm examines the biographies of Sylvia Plath, with particular focus on Anne Stevenson's Bitter Fame, to discover how Plath became an enigma in literary history. The Silent Woman is a brilliant, elegantly reasoned inquiry into the nature of biography, dispelling our innocence as readers, as well as shedding a light onto why Plath's legend continues to exert such a hold on our imaginations.Trade ReviewOne of the deepest, loveliest, and most problematic things Janet Malcolm has written. It is so subtle, so patiently analytical, and so true that it is difficult to envisage anyone writing again about Plath and Hughes * Guardian *An astonishing writer with a grasp of nuance that can be electric * The Times *Intellectually explosive, morally challenging and enormous fun * Financial Times *Compulsively readable, the best thing Malcolm has ever done * LRB *Superbly written, flowing like a piece of music from theme to theme, recapitulating here, changing key there, always disguising the complexity of its underlying construction * Independent *The best-written and most stirring polemic of the year. Completely brilliant * The Times *The Silent Woman contains some of the best thinking I know on both the practical and the philosophical problems of biography -- Bernard Crick * New Statesman *Of the oceans of words written about Sylvia Plath, these are among the best... a master storyteller and a psychoanalyst rolled into one. Brilliant * Independent *The Silent Woman pioneered a new genre of biography in its exploration of Hughes and Sylvia Plath...The study ends with an exquisite twist that gives this book the urgency of fiction...insightful * Telegraph *The maestro of gripping nonfiction investigation * Sunday Times *Brilliant -- Megan Nolan * New Statesman *A bleakly entertaining j'accuse of biography as a genre * TLS *

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Book SynopsisFrom the author of The Handmaid's Tale and Dearly I would like to be the air that inhabits you for a moment only. I would like to be that unnoticed and that necessary.Eating Fire brings together three of Margaret's Atwood's key poetry collections: Poems 1965-1975, Poems 1976-1986 and Morning in the Burned House. The landscape of Atwood's poetry is one of bus trips and postcards, wilderness, glass, and fires both savage and tender. Atwood's signature themes resound throughout all of them: the politics of sex, the darkness at the heart of every fairytale, and the pain - and triumph - of existing as a woman. * * * 'Atwood is the quiet Mata Hari, the mysterious, violent figure . . . who pits herself against the ordered too-clean world like an arsonist' - Michael Ondaatje'Detached, ironic, loving by turns . . . poems that sing off the page and sting' - Michèle RobertsTrade ReviewAtwood is the quiet Mata Hari, the mysterious, violent figure ... who pits herself against the ordered too-clean world like an arsonist * Michael Ondaatje *An acute and poetic observer of the eternal, universal rum relations between women and men * THE TIMES *Detached, ironic... poems that sing off the page and sting * Michele Roberts *Lean, symbolic, thoroughly Atwoodesque prose honed into elegant columns... * SCOTLAND ON SUNDAY *

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Book SynopsisAn autobiographical work that describes firsthand the great tectonic shifts in English society following the First World War, Robert Graves''s Goodbye to All That is a matchless evocation of the Great War''s haunting legacy, published in Penguin Modern Classics.In 1929 Robert Graves went to live abroad permanently, vowing ''never to make England my home again''. This is his superb account of his life up until that ''bitter leave-taking'': from his childhood and desperately unhappy school days at Charterhouse, to his time serving as a young officer in the First World War that was to haunt him throughout his life. It also contains memorable encounters with fellow writers and poets, including Siegfried Sassoon and Thomas Hardy, and covers his increasingly unhappy marriage to Nancy Nicholson. Goodbye to All That, with its vivid, harrowing descriptions of the Western Front, is a classic war document, and also has immense value as one of the most candid self-portraitTrade ReviewA remarkable book ... Essential reading for the centenary of the first world war—GuardianOne of the most candid self-portraits of a poet, warts and all, ever painted—The Times Literary SupplementWe see the dark heart of the book even more clearly, and hear it beating even more loudly, in this original edition than we do in the comparatively careful and considered terms of the later one—Andrew Motion

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Book SynopsisControversy raged through England during the 1570-80s as Puritans denounced all manner of games & pastimes as a danger to public morals. Writers quickly turrned their attention to their own art and the first & most influential response came with Philip Sidney''s Defense. Here he set out to answer contemporary critics &, with reference to Classical models of criticism, formulated a manifesto for English literature. Also includes George Puttenham''s Art of English Poesy, Samuel Daniel''s Defence of Rhyme, & passages by writers such as Ben Jonson, Francis Bacon & George Gascoigne.

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Book Synopsis''The finest translation in and for our time'' (Kevin Crossley-Holland) Sir Gawain and The Green Knight, with its intricate plot of enchantment and betrayal is probably the most skilfully told story in the whole of the English Arthurian cycle. Originating from the north-west midlands of England, it is based on two separate and very ancient Celtic motifs of the Beheading and the Exchange of Winnings, brought together by the anonymous 14th century poet. His telling comprehends a great variety of moods and modes - from the stark realism of the hunt-scenes to the delicious and dangerous bedroom encounters between Lady Bercilak and Gawain, from moments of pure lyric beauty when he evokes the English countryside in all its seasons, to authorial asides that are full of irony and puckish humour. This new verse translation uses a modern alliterative pattern which subtly echoes the music of the original at the same time as it strives for fidelity. ABOUT THE SERIES: For over 100 years Oxford WorlTrade ReviewThe Oxford World's Classics edition offers students an excellent introduction to this classic text and also important notes and chronologies.

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Book SynopsisAfter its publication in 1667, John Milton's Paradise Lost was celebrated throughout Europe as a supreme achievement of the human spirit. Now it is little read. To bring readers back to Milton's masterpiece, John Carey has shortened it to a third of its original length. In this fascinating reinterpretation, Carey reveals new insights about Milton's sources of inspiration, while exploring divided readings of the work's key characters. The Essential Paradise Lost presents the epic's greatest poetry, with linking passages that preserve its cosmic sweep from the superhuman defiance of a ruined archangel to a pair of tragic lovers, bewildered to find themselves responsible for the fate of the whole human race.

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Book SynopsisThe classic poem, Goblin Market (1862) by Christina Rossetti, tells the story of Lizzie and Laura, who are tempted by the fruit sold by the goblin merchants. In this fully illustrated and beautiful volume, illustrator Georgie McAusland brings the words and story to life. SHORTLISTED in the V&A Illustration Awards and the World Illustration Awards. Breathing new life into the Victorian tradition of illustrated poems, this book reads like a picture story book. The stunning illustrations illuminate and drive the narrative forward as in all good story books. It tells the tale of the two sisters drifting apart as Laura succumbs to the forbidden fruit sold by the goblins, but the bonds of sisterhood prove strong. The poem has fascinated for generations and been the subject of various interpretations. This illustrated version brings the words and story alive for a new generation. Christina Rossetti is considered the foremost female poet of her time, and her poetry still resonates with women's lives today, as she entwines themes of sexuality, sisterhood, love and temptation in her work. All of these themes are encapsulated in Goblin Market. The book includes an introduction to the poem by novelist Kirsty Gunn, so all readers – for pleasure or study – can understand its riches. Trade Review‘[A] uniquely different … illustrated interpretation’ * Pre-Raphaelite Society Review *‘This new edition has bold, simple but moving illustrations by Georgie McAusland. If you don’t know Goblin Market, it’s a must-read.‘ * Fortean Times *

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Book Synopsis''With fair-tressed Demeter, the sacred goddess, my song begins,With herself and her slim-ankled daughter, whom Aidoneus onceAbducted...''Most people are familiar, at least by repute, with the two great epics of Homer, the Iliad and the Odyssey, but few are aware that other poems survive that were attributed to Homer in ancient times. The Homeric Hymns are now known to be the work of various poets working in the same tradition, probably during the seventh and sixth centuries BC. They honour the Greek gods, and recount some of the most attractive of the Greek myths. Four of them (Hymns 2-5) stand out by reason of their length and quality. The Hymn to Demeter tells what happened when Hades, lord of the dead, abducted Persephone, Demeter''s daughter. The Hymn to Apollo describes Apollo''s birth and the foundation of his Delphic oracle. In the Hymn to Hermes Apollo''s cattle are stolen by a felonious infant - Hermes, god of thieves. In the Hymn to Aphrodite the goddess of love herself becomes infatuated with a mortal man, the Trojan prince Ankhises. ABOUT THE SERIES: For over 100 years Oxford World''s Classics has made available the widest range of literature from around the globe. Each affordable volume reflects Oxford''s commitment to scholarship, providing the most accurate text plus a wealth of other valuable features, including expert introductions by leading authorities, helpful notes to clarify the text, up-to-date bibliographies for further study, and much more.Trade ReviewThis welcome new translation of the Homeric Hymns offers a skilled and nuanced verse rendering that is accompanied by intelligent and helpful notes. The introductory material is brief; the end-notes more thorough yet always concise; throughout there is frequent and up-to-date reference to important bibliography on the hymns. Readers should find the translation poetic and often striking, and they will also come away with a firm sense of modern scholarship on these short epic works. * Journal of Hellenic Studies *

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Book SynopsisSharing what he's learnt during half a century's creative work, John Greening gives us an insight into the life of a poet, playwright, editor, reviewer, teacher and performer. Eminently readable, amusing and informative, A High Calling is a rich resource for anyone with an interest in good writing. Navigating a wide-ranging career, including a spell as a children's magician and a time at the BBC with musicologist Hans Keller, as well as years spent living in Upper Egypt, we are taken on a journey around the globe and through time and literature. With an extraordinary cast of poets, including correspondence with Ted Hughes and a meeting with Seamus Heaney at Little Gidding, Greening paints a compelling portrait of the lives behind the writers we meet. Rich in anecdote and literary insight and interwoven with autobiographical sketches and original poems, A High Calling is anything but lofty in its approach, and is chock-full with down-to-earth advice for readers and writers.

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Book SynopsisIt was as a poet that Samuel Beckett launched himself in the little reviews of 1930s Paris, and as a poet that he ended his career.The Collected Poems is the most complete edition of Beckett''s poetry and verse translations ever to be published, as well as the first critical edition. It establishes a significant new canon, and the commentary draws on a wide range of published sources, manuscripts and Beckett''s extensive correspondence. The notes place each poem in context, detailing the history and circumstances of its composition; they indicate significant variants and help explain obscure turns of phrase and allusions (frequently sourced to Beckett''s notebooks); they also identify resonances between poems and across Beckett''s work as a whole. The commentary is written in a lively and engaging style and is intended equally for the general reader, the student of modernism and the Beckett specialist.

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Book SynopsisW. B. Yeats (1865-1939) was not only Ireland''s greatest poet but one of the most influential voices in world literature in the twentieth century. His extraordinary work, in the words of this volume''s editor Seamus Heaney, encourages us ''to be more resolutely and abundantly alive, whatever the conditions.''Other volumes in this series: Auden, Betjemen, Eliot, Hughes and Plath

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Book Synopsis Winner of the 2016 Goodreads Choice Award, the princess saves herself in this one is a collection of poetry about resilience. It is about writing your own ending.   From Amanda Lovelace, a poetry collection in four parts: the princess, the damsel, the queen, and you. The first three sections piece together the life of the author while the final section serves as a note to the reader. This moving book explores love, loss, grief, healing, empowerment, and inspiration.the princess saves herself in this one is the first book in the 'women are some kind of magic' series.Trade Review"It blends fairy tale lore with real-life musings for a beautiful result." (Lindsay E. Mack, Romper)"As a whole, the collection acts as a tribute to all women who have ever needed a boost of empowerment and inspiration." (Madison Breaux, V Magazine)"...Amanda Lovelace dives into the topics of modern feminism and empowerment...Read if you've ever thought about love, loss, who you are, and what you want. (So...all of us.)" (Abigail Yonker, The Everygirl)"This is the book to read if you are on the path to writing your own ending and finding yourself, even when the road to accomplishment is rocky." (Dominique Etzel, Alloy)"Similar in style—written in straightforward and uncomplicated verse, and content—grappling with themes of female power, love and loss, failure and redemption, pain and healing, poet Amanda Lovelace's The Princess Saves Herself in this One is similar to Kaur's Milk and Honey in another way as well: both books were self-published before going completely viral among readers." (E. CE Miller, Bustle)"The perfect poetry opener for any fairytale lover and feminist..." (Kerri Jarema, Bustle)"15 Books You'll Want To Read Over And Over Again" (Zoraida Córdova, Bustle)"18 Literary Quotes Every Feminist Needs to Read Right Now" #5 "the only thing / required / to be / a woman / is to / identify as one. / - period, end of story." (E. CE Miller, Bustle)"14 New Books You Definitely Need to Have on Your Radar in February [2017]" (Ryan Roschke, PopSugar)

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