Description

Book Synopsis
The title of a poem is often seen as no more than a convenient means of reference. But in shorter lyric poems the title can often be as long as a line of verse, and as allusive. This is a theoretical, critical, and historical exploration of the traditions for titling shorter English poems.

Trade Review
"This is a powerful, elegant, and most original study that moves across and through the range of English and American verse. . . . What is so impressive, too, about this book is that the author's thought about the nature and structure and function of titles is rooted in, and leads to, wonderfully illuminating readings of the poems in question."—John Hollander, Yale University
"There hasn't been an adequate history of the business of poetic titling until this new book by Ferry, and it is stimulating and welcome. . . .This is an indispensable hornbook. Anne Ferry has written the last word on the first words on any poem."—Partisan Review

Table of Contents
Introduction; Part I. Ownership and Self-Presentation; 1. Who gives the title; 2. Who has the title; Part II. Interpretive Fictions: 3. Who 'says' the poem' 4. Who 'hears' the poem; Part III. Authoritative Hierarchies: 5. What kind the poem belongs to; 6. What the poem is 'about'; Part IV. Undermining Titles: 7. Quotations in the title space; 8. Evasions of the title space; Afterward; Notes; Index.

The Title to the Poem

    Product form

    A Paperback / softback by Anne Ferry

    £25.19

    Includes FREE delivery

    RRP £27.99 – you save £2.80 (10%)

    Order before 4pm tomorrow for delivery by Tue 27 Oct 2026.

      Trusted by thousands of customers. See 2,385+ Customer Reviews

      View other formats and editions of The Title to the Poem by Anne Ferry

      Book details

      Publisher Stanford University Press
      Published 1 January 1999
      ISBN-13 9780804735179
      978-0804735179
      ISBN-10 0804735174
      Also in:
      Literary studies: poetry and poets

      Description

      Book Synopsis
      The title of a poem is often seen as no more than a convenient means of reference. But in shorter lyric poems the title can often be as long as a line of verse, and as allusive. This is a theoretical, critical, and historical exploration of the traditions for titling shorter English poems.

      Trade Review
      "This is a powerful, elegant, and most original study that moves across and through the range of English and American verse. . . . What is so impressive, too, about this book is that the author's thought about the nature and structure and function of titles is rooted in, and leads to, wonderfully illuminating readings of the poems in question."—John Hollander, Yale University
      "There hasn't been an adequate history of the business of poetic titling until this new book by Ferry, and it is stimulating and welcome. . . .This is an indispensable hornbook. Anne Ferry has written the last word on the first words on any poem."—Partisan Review

      Table of Contents
      Introduction; Part I. Ownership and Self-Presentation; 1. Who gives the title; 2. Who has the title; Part II. Interpretive Fictions: 3. Who 'says' the poem' 4. Who 'hears' the poem; Part III. Authoritative Hierarchies: 5. What kind the poem belongs to; 6. What the poem is 'about'; Part IV. Undermining Titles: 7. Quotations in the title space; 8. Evasions of the title space; Afterward; Notes; Index.

      Recently viewed products

      © 2026 Book Curl

        • American Express
        • Apple Pay
        • Diners Club
        • Discover
        • Google Pay
        • Maestro
        • Mastercard
        • PayPal
        • Shop Pay
        • Union Pay
        • Visa

        Login

        Forgot your password?

        Don't have an account yet?
        Create account