Reviews for The Norton Anthology of Poetry

The average rating for The Norton Anthology of Poetry based on 28 reviews is 4.0714285714286 stars.

Review # 1 was written on 2012-10-18 00:00:00 David Yarowsky I am more familiar with earlier editions, and while Margy Ferguson* is an excellent and perceptive scholar-editor, she cannot repell the publisher's usual bowing to sell books. My riveting memory of such an event was in a freshman literature anthology, ground-breaking in its day. It included Tom Thumb, had an entire section of songs and the prosody of songs, and many other things, which because they were unique, I tended to teach. Next edition, they were all cut. And I dumped the anthology. Evi I am more familiar with earlier editions, and while Margy Ferguson* is an excellent and perceptive scholar-editor, she cannot repell the publisher's usual bowing to sell books. My riveting memory of such an event was in a freshman literature anthology, ground-breaking in its day. It included Tom Thumb, had an entire section of songs and the prosody of songs, and many other things, which because they were unique, I tended to teach. Next edition, they were all cut. And I dumped the anthology. Evidently, all the freshman lit-comp teachers in the country were pretty used to doing what they did, could not use the wonderful innovations. You'd think frosh comp would be generally staffed by the younger and more flexible teachers, but perhaps when you include all the adjunct and experienced teachers who missed tenure, you have a group of fairly careful people unwilling to take risks. Well, if that was the way it was fifteen years ago, think how that will be reinforced by the scrutiny of the classroom by those who think of it as a factory. Or by those who know nothing of teaching, like the US Secretary of Education, Arne Duncan, who only taught for two years--gym. Your production line's doing WHAT? Song prosody? Where will the standardized test examine that? *M Ferguson joined my SAA seminar on Shakepseare and Oral Culture in Seattle, and is a supporter of my latest, Parodies Lost, on Tom Weiskel, Harold Bloom's favorite young colleague at Yale in the early 70's. MF also knew Tom at Yale; and H Bloom wrote me, "I think of Tom every day. I still grieve him."

Review # 2 was written on 2017-03-10 00:00:00 David Carl More than four months in the reading. Worth every day.

Review # 3 was written on 2012-01-28 00:00:00 Dina Richard This book is huge, so I had no intention of reading it cover to cover. I just flipped through, reading a poem here, another one there. I didn't even buy this book for a class. I had some extra scholarship book money, so I bought myself a copy. Unfortunately, my copy of this book disappeared many years ago. I think a no good roommate stole it. The funny thing is that he considered himself a Christian. I hope he still has this book and feels guilty whenever he sees it on his bookshelf. I hope he's worried about what God thinks about him stealing the book. (He tried to steal my cat to, but didn't get away with it.) Anyway, this book is chock full of poems. It could keep a poetry lover happy for many years.

Review # 4 was written on 2019-08-04 00:00:00 Matthew Facherty I began reading this book as a detour to fill in some missing breadth between volumes of Jerome Rothenberg's Poems for the Millennium. I was waiting tables and apartment living with my girlfriend and two cats in Seattle. That was seven years ago. Today I finished the final page in my house while my wife, the same girlfriend from before, held our baby daughter and watched Beetlejuice with our son and two dogs. The cats are around but less interested in television than the aquarium. I'm not saying I began reading this book as a detour to fill in some missing breadth between volumes of Jerome Rothenberg's Poems for the Millennium. I was waiting tables and apartment living with my girlfriend and two cats in Seattle. That was seven years ago. Today I finished the final page in my house while my wife, the same girlfriend from before, held our baby daughter and watched Beetlejuice with our son and two dogs. The cats are around but less interested in television than the aquarium. I'm not saying seven years of Milton and Auden and Hart Crane caused a life compounded with living beings but I'm not saying it didn't. This procreant era of my life happened with these poems and without them. Long stretches of not reading were as significant as the moments I would dive back in, remembering myself when I had forgotten crucial goals. My copy is worn - reinforced with packing tape along the spine and cloudy white on the front and back pages where my hands held while I soaked in a bath; I do my best reading in water. So I lived through all these poems and I hardly remember them now but I didn't read them to have read them. My only takeaway is that I chose to live with poetry and I still like the choice. What I loved about this volume was how it generated a great to-read list of poets.

Review # 5 was written on 2010-05-23 00:00:00 Justin Anderson In college my Great Books professor put this whole anthology on our 100 Greatest Books list. The idea of this class is that you read as many of the 100 during the semester as you can; then you're supposed to read the remnant over the course of your life. This anthology was a real cop out on the professors' part - along with the complete works of William Shakespeare. It was setting us up for failure. I started the anthology in 2005 when I was in music composition grad school in Baton Rouge Louisiana, August 18, 2012. I read one poet a day, or up to three poems, both silently and out loud. I missed days/weeks/months, but I persevered. It is now February 23, 2012, and I read the last poet today. And I still know nothing about what's going on in contemporary poetry. Overall, a little light on formal innovation.

Review # 6 was written on 2007-07-05 00:00:00 Ronan Mcloughlin I'm reading through this -- what is probably my 4th or so copy -- different/updated edition, though. Seems like it gets bigger and bigger each year! Thing is, this is a damn good anthology far as anthologies go. Thing is, though, I prefer the original collections. Kinda like the difference between a "Best of" album and the original deal. Yada yada yada. I'm reading through this -- what is probably my 4th or so copy -- different/updated edition, though. Seems like it gets bigger and bigger each year! Thing is, this is a damn good anthology far as anthologies go. Thing is, though, I prefer the original collections. Kinda like the difference between a "Best of" album and the original deal. Yada yada yada.

Review # 7 was written on 2016-05-05 00:00:00 Edmond Ko Eighty bucks? Really? I need a Biblio-Fairy Godparent.

Review # 8 was written on 2017-04-07 00:00:00 Mark Seidel An anthology of endless delights and a celebration of the beauty of the English language.

Review # 9 was written on 2020-02-26 00:00:00 Daniel Cipriani Wonderful book. I got a second-hand copy for a few hundred bucks, since the original copies were ridiculously expensive for a student (8k for one book?!) I am also a little disappointed that there are only 3 poems of Dorothy Parker when she should have had at least 5 pages dedicated to her. (Like c'mon, even E. E Cummings has got 9 poems!) Other than that, I am pretty much satisfied with the book. There are a total of 1823 poems, which I am fairly certain will keep me satisfied for the n 3.5 stars Wonderful book. I got a second-hand copy for a few hundred bucks, since the original copies were ridiculously expensive for a student (8k for one book?!) I am also a little disappointed that there are only 3 poems of Dorothy Parker when she should have had at least 5 pages dedicated to her. (Like c'mon, even E. E Cummings has got 9 poems!) Other than that, I am pretty much satisfied with the book. There are a total of 1823 poems, which I am fairly certain will keep me satisfied for the next few months.

Review # 10 was written on 2011-11-13 00:00:00 Matt Pearson I'm marking as read although I didn't make it through even half of the poems while it formed the backbone of my reading list through college. Outrageously expensive (for an 18 year old student anyway) I borrowed a copy from a guy who had just graduated and gave it to his little brother who was starting college the year I finished up. My flatmate has a copy though, and I'm glad to have it around again for reference.

Review # 11 was written on 2012-08-30 00:00:00 Christian Ederer Covers the history and evolution of poetry in English, however I'd suggest the Norton Anthology of Post-Modern American Poetry as a supplement since this book really doesn't cover many of the influential poets writing today. However, English majors or anyone interested in poetry should have a copy of this book in their library. Covers the history and evolution of poetry in English, however I'd suggest the Norton Anthology of Post-Modern American Poetry as a supplement since this book really doesn't cover many of the influential poets writing today. However, English majors or anyone interested in poetry should have a copy of this book in their library.

Review # 12 was written on 2012-06-23 00:00:00 Sigalit Pearl What can I say - I love poetry

Review # 13 was written on 2015-10-28 00:00:00 Jamie Clouthier I may not have read it cover to cover but this is a pretty awesome and comprehensive anthology of poetry.

Review # 14 was written on 2021-01-01 00:00:00 Alana Winner This review is for the 2018 edition. I quite liked Norton's Anthology of Poetic Forms but I was left craving something more comprehensive. Enter, this gem. Every poetry aficionado needs a copy of this in their library. It's a weighty tome (trust me, you'll want to set it down when you read from it) but it's something you'll go back to time and time again. The "usual suspects" are all accounted for here and there are also some more esoteric choices, making it a greatly varied volume. It's also ar This review is for the 2018 edition. I quite liked Norton's Anthology of Poetic Forms but I was left craving something more comprehensive. Enter, this gem. Every poetry aficionado needs a copy of this in their library. It's a weighty tome (trust me, you'll want to set it down when you read from it) but it's something you'll go back to time and time again. The "usual suspects" are all accounted for here and there are also some more esoteric choices, making it a greatly varied volume. It's also arranged chronologically so if you're looking to see how poetry has evolved over the centuries, it's fantastic. There are also mini biographies for each author and an exceptionally comprehensive glossary of poetic forms. I saw reviews on other sites where people weren't happy with the thinness of the pages, so I thought it was something worth mentioning here. Those reviews didn't exaggerate, the paper is exactly like Bible paper; waxy and very thin. Personally, I love that sort of paper but it can be a point of contention for some people.

Review # 15 was written on 2019-09-01 00:00:00 Maggie Donaldson I've owned this book for a long time and I've never read it cover to cover. But I do love to open it to random pages and scan poems for a little while. I've been doing that a lot lately, at the expense of my reading challenge, so I'm including it here. I've owned this book for a long time and I've never read it cover to cover. But I do love to open it to random pages and scan poems for a little while. I've been doing that a lot lately, at the expense of my reading challenge, so I'm including it here.

Review # 16 was written on 2017-07-31 00:00:00 Paul Chee Essential reading

Review # 17 was written on 2017-09-01 00:00:00 Larry Turner I mean, I'm not finished finished, but I'm done with it for my module at university and will continue to use it. Very helpful (albeit expensive).

Review # 18 was written on 2017-10-14 00:00:00 Chris Dillingham Brilliant amalgamation of so many different poets!

Review # 19 was written on 2018-07-09 00:00:00 Sebastian Bramer I read it from back to front in reverse chronological order and the segue from familiar English to Old English is really cool.

Review # 20 was written on 2018-07-25 00:00:00 Mark Mcewen Interesting collection of poems.

Review # 21 was written on 2019-04-05 00:00:00 Michael Perry This is a wonderful anthology of poetry and how to write a poem in many styles is also included. I am so happy with this book. Do Read!

Review # 22 was written on 2019-04-23 00:00:00 Bradley S Cockrell Anthologies are like an "all-you-can-eat" buffet. You discover tantalizing desserts, nutritious entres and often, if you're lucky, delectable surprises. Anthologies are like an "all-you-can-eat" buffet. You discover tantalizing desserts, nutritious entres and often, if you're lucky, delectable surprises.

Review # 23 was written on 2019-08-19 00:00:00 Steve Ramsden Whew, almost four years on and off -- I feel a bit bereft!

Review # 24 was written on 2019-11-20 00:00:00 Steve Grier Extremely dense with everything a student could need.

Review # 25 was written on 2020-05-23 00:00:00 Linda C. Brown For 'Poetry: Reading and Interpretation'; not cover to cover.

Review # 26 was written on 2020-06-07 00:00:00 Max Owen My companion at uni. Almost all the classic poetry you need.

Review # 27 was written on 2020-11-30 00:00:00 Carissa Nye Great on a per-pound basis, though my personal interests tend to the more recent in my post-academia era.

Review # 28 was written on 2016-10-01 00:00:00 Annie Bombardier Whitman: 1,5,6,11 Song of Myself: 3 stars Dickinson: 260 (288) : 3 Stars 320 (258) : 3 Stars 409 (303): 3 Stars 445 (613): 4 Stars 905 (861): 3 Stars The Unquiet Grave: 5 Stars A Fit Of Rhyme Against Rhyme: 3 Stars Of A' the Airts: 4 Stars The Eolian Harp: 2 Stars () To A Skylark: 3 Stars () Mariana: 4 Stars ( Jabberwocky: 4 Stars () Is My Team Pl Whitman: 1,5,6,11 Song of Myself: 3 stars Dickinson: 260 (288) : 3 Stars 320 (258) : 3 Stars 409 (303): 3 Stars 445 (613): 4 Stars 905 (861): 3 Stars The Unquiet Grave: 5 Stars A Fit Of Rhyme Against Rhyme: 3 Stars Of A' the Airts: 4 Stars The Eolian Harp: 2 Stars () To A Skylark: 3 Stars () Mariana: 4 Stars ( Jabberwocky: 4 Stars () Is My Team Ploughing: 4 Stars Yes, lad, I lie easy,/ I lie as lads would choose;/I cheer a dead man's sweetheart,/ Never ask me whose. The Weary Blues: 3 Stars As I Walked Out One Evening: 4 Stars Slow, Slow Fresh Fount: 3 Stars The Clod & the Pebble: 4 Stars ( Not Waving but Drowning: 2 Stars () Incident: 3 Stars () The Wife's Lament: 3 Stars () The Apparition: 2 Stars In a Station of the Metro: 2 Stars Epilogue: 3 Stars I want to make/ something imagined, not recalled? Coal: 2 Stars Nature, That Washer Her Hands in Milk: 4 Stars The Flea: 2 Stars () The Vine: 3 Stars