Is both a history and an anthology of poetry in the English language, from Chaucer to T.S. Eliot and from Shakespeare to Dylan Thomas.

In 'Six Centuries of English Poetry: Tennyson to Chaucer,' James Baldwin expertly navigates the evolution of English poetry from the Victorian era to the Middle Ages. Through an in-depth analysis of works by poets such as Alfred Lord Tennyson and Geoffrey Chaucer, Baldwin provides readers with a comprehensive understanding of the themes, styles, and historical contexts of each poem. The book is a scholarly exploration of how English poetry has evolved over time, offering insightful commentary and critical interpretations of some of the most influential poems in literary history. James Baldwin, known for his expertise in literature and poetry, brings a wealth of knowledge and insight to this work. His background as a renowned literary critic and professor undoubtedly informs his analysis, making 'Six Centuries of English Poetry' a valuable resource for students and enthusiasts alike. I highly recommend 'Six Centuries of English Poetry: Tennyson to Chaucer' to anyone interested in the evolution of English poetry and the works of Tennyson, Chaucer, and other influential poets. Baldwin's scholarly approach and insightful commentary make this book a must-read for anyone looking to deepen their understanding of English literary traditions.

"Few poetic forms have found more uses than the sonnet in English, and none is now more recognizable. It is one of the longest-lived of verse forms, and one of the briefest. A mere fourteen lines, fashioned by intricate rhymes, it is, as Dante Gabriel Rossetti called it, "a moment's monument." From the Renaissance to the present, the sonnet has given poets a superb vehicle for private contemplation, introspection, and the expression of passionate feelings and thoughts." "The Art of the Sonnet collects one hundred exemplary sonnets of the English language (and a few sonnets in translation), representing highlights in the history of the sonnet, accompanied by short commentaries on each of the poems. The commentaries by Stephen Burt and David Mikics offer new perspectives and insights, and, taken together, demonstrate the enduring as well as changing nature of the sonnet. The authors serve as guides to some of the most-celebrated sonnets in English as well as less-well-known gems by nineteenth- and twentieth-century poets. Also included is a general introductory essay, in which the authors examine the sonnet form and its long and fascinating history, from its origin in medieval Sicily to its English appropriation in the sixteenth century to sonnet writing today in the United States, the United Kingdom, and other English-speaking parts of the world." --Book Jacket.

Contributors to this volume of essays on Francis Petrarch are Aldo Scaglione, Joseph G. Fucilla, Thomas G. Bergin, Maria Picchio Simonelli, Fredi Chiappelli, Julia Conway Bondanella, Oscar Budel, Marga Cottino-Jones, Christopher Kleinhenz, Sara Sturm, Concetta Carestia Greenfield, Armaud Tripet, Douglas Radcliff-Umstead, Conrad H. Rawski, John E. Wrigley, Eugenio Battisti, Benjamin Kohl, Angelo Mazzocco, Jerome Taylor, Donald L. Guss, Paolo Cherchi, Frank L. Borchardt, Gerhard Dunnhaupt, and Gerhart Hoffmeister.