Argument & song Book

An Introduction to the characteristics and properties of English Poetry: this is a book about metre and poetic technique, not a primer or a chronology. James Fenton concisely summarises the fundamentals and, as a poet himself, shares his insights. Concepts like iamb, trochee and accent (as distinguished from 'stress') are clearly elaborated with helpful examples of usage from a wide range of poets and periods. It is delightful that a work about poetry should read so beautifully, not only because of words like choriamb, anapaest, and amphibrach, but also as a result of Fenton's crisp and stately style.