Shakespeare's Metrical Art Book

In general, meter is not an easy topic to talk (or read) about. It is dry, confusing, and subject to individual scansion so a definitive answer is often not readily available. Wright does a wonderful job of guiding his reader down the history of iambic pentameter, and explaining its parts and functions to a reader who may not be nearly as interested in this topic as he is. As one of these types of readers, I especially appreciated the time Wright took to explain the rise of pentameter from Chaucer to Sidney. He rightly understands that his reader could never fully appreciate Shakespeare's metrical style without having first known the type of form Shakespeare was deviating FROM. His work is detailed in its focus and riddled with examples so the reader can see visually and, if they read the lines aloud, hear audibly the different metrical anomalies. I highly recommend this book to anyone trying to learn more about iambic pentameter, scansion, 16th and 17th century poetry, or Shakespeare's metrical style. I believe it would also make a great teaching aid for the collegiate level.