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100 Poets

A Little Anthology
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( 130 ratings, 35 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
100 Poets by John Carey delves into the lives and works of poets across a spectrum of time and culture. Carey offers insightful snapshots of each poet, capturing their essence and contributions to the world of poetry. This exploration of artistic voices shows the enduring power of poetry and its ability to influence and reflect society.
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

This book may appeal to you if you love exploring the arts and culture through the lens of poetry and its impact on the world. John Carey offers insightful commentary on 100 poets, making it an ideal choice for those who appreciate a blend of literary analysis and cultural history. Whether you are a lifelong poetry enthusiast or new to the field, this book promises to enrich your understanding and appreciation of poetic contributions to society.

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A wonderfully readable anthology of our greatest poetry, chosen by the author of A Little History of Poetry

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description
A wonderfully readable anthology of our greatest poetry, chosen by the author of A Little History of Poetry "Does anyone know more about poetry than John Carey? Almost certainly not."—The Times

A poem seems a fragile thing. Change a word and it is broken. But poems outlive empires and survive the devastation of conquests. Celebrated author John Carey here presents a uniquely valuable anthology of verse based on a simple principle: select the one hundred greatest poets from across the centuries, and then choose their finest poems.

Ranging from Homer and Sappho to Donne and Milton, Plath and Angelou, this is a delightful and accessible introduction to the very best that poetry can offer. Familiar favourites are nestled alongside marvellous new discoveries—all woven together with Carey’s expert commentary. Particular attention is given to the works of female poets, like Christina Rossetti and Charlotte Mew. This is a personal guide to the poetry that shines brightest through the ages.

Within its pages, readers will find treasured poems that remain with you for life.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

John Carey's 100 Poets is celebrated for its infectious enthusiasm and selection of poets ranging from well-known figures to underappreciated talents. It aims to make poetry accessible, with each entry featuring a key poem and an insightful introduction. Critics highlight its appeal as both a bedside companion and a perfect collection to dip into during daily commutes, offering a blend of lyrical, melancholic, and divine elements.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780300266993

Publisher: Yale University Press

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 27 September 2022

Country: United States

Imprint: Yale University Press

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Width: 127.0mm

Height: 197.0mm

Weight: 250g

Pages: 288

About the Author

John Carey is emeritus professor at the University of Oxford. His books include A Little History of Poetry, The Essential Paradise Lost, What Good Are the Arts?, studies of Donne and Dickens, and a prizewinning biography of William Golding.

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  • A Little History of Poetry
    A vital guide to poetry from ancient times to the present "[A] fizzing, exhilarating book."—Sebastian Faulks, Sunday Times, London "Delightful.'"—New York Times Book Review Poetry is language made special, so that it will be remembered and valued. It does not always work – over the centuries countless thousands of poems have been forgotten. This Little History is about some that...
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  • Sunday Best
    A collection of John Carey’s greatest, wisest, and wittiest reviews—amassed over a lifetime of writing   In 1977, newly installed as a professor of English at Oxford, John Carey took the position of chief reviewer for the Sunday Times. In a career spanning over 40 years and upwards of 1,000 reviews, Carey has kept abreast of the brightest and best...
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  • Dead Cat Bounce
    John Carey possesses a wicked, intelligent sense of humour and a deft feel for the play of language. His poetry is a finely calibrated device for detecting and skewering absurdity, cant, hypocrisy, humbug, mendacity, and institutional cruelty. Underlying the fun is the humanist's lament that we should and could be better than this. Though overshadowed by his satires, this New...
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  • A Revolution in Three Acts
    Bert Williams—a Black man forced to perform in blackface who challenged the stereotypes of minstrelsy. Eva Tanguay—an entertainer with the signature song "I Don't Care" who flouted the rules of propriety to redefine womanhood for the modern age. Julian Eltinge—a female impersonator who entranced and unnerved audiences by embodying the feminine ideal Tanguay rejected. At the turn of the twentieth...
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  • The Essential Paradise Lost
    After 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...
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  • A Little History of Poetry
    A vital, engaging, and hugely enjoyable guide to poetry, from ancient times to the present, by one of our greatest champions of literature—selected as the literature book of the year by the London Times “[A] fizzing, exhilarating book.”—Sebastian Faulks, Sunday Times, London “Delightful.”—New York Times Book Review What is poetry? If music is sound organized in a particular way, poetry...
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