Carlyle's friendships and other studies Book

I got this from the library and as lit major I was interested on what Perkins had to say. It is well written and easy to follow. He starts with an overview of the times and then drills down through the minor poets and up to the major. He has standard view of modern English poetry (it is not "Modern Poetry" but Modern English poetry) so reading this you get a good textbook in the field. You can either read it straight through as I imagine most do or as a reference; either works depending upon your own knowledge. I liked that with the minors he gave lines from their best work, which is good as you know what to find and read -- there is a lot of bad literature out there and having a guide helps. His cataloging of the periods, styles and influences is very helpful. He did a good review of Robt Frost but of course the best part of the book is his critical analysis of eliot, Pounds & Yeats -- the real linchpins of Mod Poetry, not to know and understand them is not only to miss Mod Poetry but good Mod literature as well.