Reviews for Before the Romantics

The average rating for Before the Romantics based on 2 reviews is 4 stars.

Review # 1 was written on 2014-02-02 00:00:00 Aaron Klosterman The Contents list elegantly comprises: Preface; Part One: "The Virtuosos"; Part Two: "Nature More Natural"; Part 3: Epilogue: "Flowers Among Reason"; Notes; and List of Authors. Geoffrey Grigson has introduced me to a period of English poetry which previously I barely knew of. I was greatly encouraged by his observation that the poets of the Enlightenment were those who looked for the 'gleam', and 'sharp glitter of objects' (Preface). They saw with eyes wide open for reality, and employed words of imagination and awe. They spoke openly of Death; a more commonplace event to them than to many of us today. This is a book of extracts, tasters of the most ethereal and charmed of thoughts. The dry and monotonous is not to be found within these pages because Grigson has selected the jewels from whole works. "… In Pearls and Rubies rich the Hawthorns show, While thro' the Ice the Crimson Berries glow. … …When if a sudden Gust of Wind arise, The Brittle Forest into Atoms flies; The crackling Wood beneath the Tempest bends, And in a spangled Show'r the Prospect ends …" ((no. 202). (Ambrose Philips (1675? - 1749). … describes my absolute favourite winter weather of the English countryside, dry, cold, re-frozen snow and ice warmed by the sun; and where, as night falls one might find: "…the Moon Full-orbed, and breaking thro' the scatter'd Clouds. Shews her broad Visage in the crimsone'd East. …" ". (no. 347). (James Thomson (1700 - 1748). I am a great fan of metrical poetry. I really enjoy recognising and reading aloud the author's exercise of skill with which good verse is constructed (even if I'm not too hot on identifying the form). Too much of what passes for poetry today is in reality creative 'poetic' writing; and ought not be confused with the knowledge and considerable expertise required to write good verse which is satisfying to mind and ear.

Review # 2 was written on 2018-01-04 00:00:00 Larry Macek Some wonderful works