This anthology is intended, in general, for anyone who wishes to acquaint himself with English poetry and, in particular, for the student-reader in undergraduate courses who may wish to have some of the best poems in the English language in one handy selection. In selecting for this book from the great bulk of English poetry, the editors have been guided by the notion that space should be given only to those poets who are acknowledge masters of imaginative writing, whatever their subject matter might be. From the poets so chosen, particular poems were selected for their characteristic excellence of substance and form. Wherever possible the pieces are complete; where space would not allow completeness, as in the case of dramatic pieces, enough has been given to suggest the nature of the total poem. In the course of their work the editors have been struck by the incisive implication Matthew Arnold's belief in the 'best that has been thought and said' that the best said is commonly the best thought. They have, however, kept their eyes steadily on both the abilities and the limitations of students when they are faced with a piece of creative writing and that, too, in a language which is not their own. Their minds are accustomed, accustomed, perhaps, to work best at a literal-that is an unimaginative-level. The editors have, therefore, offered the sort of material which may be readily understood and immediately enjoyed. They have also tried to show the student-reader the characteristic types of poetry which have been written in the English language. The poets are arranged almost chronologically so that he can see how tastes and forms have changed even though the basic characteristics have remained constant. If he has to read poetry well, he must know what its characteristics are and what the poet is attempting to do. He must not expect the fully developed situations of the novel, the play, or even the short story. Rather, he should look for sudden bursts of insight into some corner of human experience, More important, possibly, he should look forward to sharing briefly in the experience itself. For it is part of the magic of poetry that at one and the same time it can tell you about experience and make you feel its peculiar significance. The Poems and poetic extracts have been taken from a wide variety of sources, and no attempt has been made to establish definitive texts. Where possible, however, they have been checked for accuracy with texts in Oxford or other authorized editions. Spelling and capitalization, with few exceptions, have been modernized. The Metaphysicals of the seventeenth century and the neo-classical satirists of the Augustan Age have been adequately represented. To our many colleagues whose suggestions and interpretations we have requisitioned, we most gratefully acknowledge our indebtedness, wishing that space allowed us to name each one. More particularly we thank, forunflagging help and encouragement, Professor George Shepperson of Edinburgh University; Dr. D.E. Rhodes of the British Museum Library, London; Dr. T.P. Chitanand of Bombay University; Dr. Tulsi Ram of M.D. University; Rohtak; Dr. Awadhesh Sharma of Bhagalpur University; Rosewita Prasad and Pratima, both students in the Post-Graduate Dept. of English, Patna University.

This is a reproduction of a book published before 1923. This book may have occasional imperfections such as missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. that were either part of the original artifact, or were introduced by the scanning process. We believe this work is culturally important, and despite the imperfections, have elected to bring it back into print as part of our continuing commitment to the preservation of printed works worldwide. We appreciate your understanding of the imperfections in the preservation process, and hope you enjoy this valuable book.

From Tottel's Miscellany (1557) to the last twentieth-century Oxford Book of English Verse (1999), anthologies have been a prime institution for the preservation and mediation of poetry. The importance of anthologies for creating and re-creating the canon of English poetry, for introducing ‘new' programmes of poetry, as a record of changing poetic fashions, audience tastes and reading practices, or as a profitable literary commodity has often been asserted. Despite its impact, however, the poetry anthology in itself has attracted surprisingly little critical interest in Britain or elsewhere in the English-speaking world. This volume is the first publication to explore the largely unmapped field of poetry anthologies in Britain. Essays written from a wide range of perspectives in literary and cultural studies, and the point of view of poets, editors, publishers and cultural institutions, aim to do justice to the typological, functional and historical variety with which this form of publication has manifested itself - from early modern print culture to the postmodern age of the world wide web.

Clearly focussed on the needs of students, Robert Eaglestone and Jonathan Beecher Field have revised the best-selling Doing English specifically for English literature courses in America. Studying English presents the ideas and debates that shape literary studies in America today. This overview of the discipline explains not only what students need to know, but how and why English came to be the way it is. This uniquely comprehensive guide to the subject gives students the background they need to understand and enjoy their studies more fully. The book covers arguments about criticism and theory, value, the canon, Shakespeare, authorial intention, figural language, narrative, writing, identity, politics and the skills that are learned from studying English for the world of work. In a clear and engaging way, Robert Eaglestone and Jonathan Beecher Field: Orient you, by exploring what it is to study English in America now. Equip you, by explaining the key ideas and trends in English in context. Enable you to begin higher level study.