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Poetry of the First World War Tim Kendall (Professor of English Literature, University of Exeter)

Poetry of the First World War By Tim Kendall (Professor of English Literature, University of Exeter)

Summary

A new anthology that combines generous selections from well-known soldier poets such as Wilfred Owen and Siegfried Sassoon with work by civilian and women poets. A general introduction places Great War poetry in its contexts and the work of each poet is prefaced with a biographical account that explains the circumstances of composition.

Poetry of the First World War Summary

Poetry of the First World War: An Anthology by Tim Kendall (Professor of English Literature, University of Exeter)

'What passing-bells for these who die as cattle?' The First World War produced an extraordinary flowering of poetic talent, from poets whose words commemorate the conflict as enduringly as monuments in stone. Their poems have come to express the feelings of a nation about the horrors and aftermath of war. This new anthology provides a definitive record of the achievements of the Great War poets. As well as offering generous selections from the celebrated soldier-poets, including Wilfred Owen, Siegfried Sassoon, Rupert Brooke, and Ivor Gurney, it also incorporates less well-known writing by civilian and women poets. Music hall and trench songs provide a further lyrical perspective on the War. The work of each poet is prefaced with a biographical account that sets the poems in their historical context. In addition, Tim Kendall's introduction charts the history of the war poets' reception and challenges prevailing myths about their progress from idealism to bitterness.

Poetry of the First World War Reviews

What makes this anthology invaluable is the attention to detail. Not only is there an acutely perceptive general introduction, but all the poets - including the often misunderstood Rupert Brooke - receive a sympathetic and well judge individual introduction, together with a wealth of biographical and bibliographical information. * Agenda, N. S. Thompson *
Kendall's introductory essay is a thoughtful contribution to the history of the war poetry. With the political point scoring that will dominate the major part of the media and political debate [during] the centenary, Kendall's collection reminds us of the human cost of that conflict, and of any conflict. * The Use of English, Anil Malhotra *
Kendall's judicious selections, and his concise and useful introductions to each of the chosen poets, suggest that his anthology will become a standard work * Sean O'Brien, The Times Literary Supplement *
The Oxford University Press anthology The Poetry of the First World War, edited by Tim Kendall, offers a counterweight to this year's public commemorations and it is a superb selection. * David Collard, Times Literary Supplement *
Superb anthology. * Mail on Sunday *
A superb, unbeatable collection * Bel Mooney, Daily Mail *
The best poetry collection I read brilliantly edited, with illuminating notes. * Jerard Bretts, the guardian *
This is a thoroughly well produced anthology of powerful and fascinating poems. * Sheenagh Pugh *
This is much the best selection yet made ... Kendall selects brilliantly. * Peter McDonald, Times Literary Supplement *
As a student-friendly definition of the Great War canon, and as a piece of meticulous scholarship, this one will be hard to beat. * George Simmers, Great War Fiction *
This is a book worthy of any bookshelf. * Evil Cyclist's Blog *
Superb. * Weekly Standard *
This is a wonderful resource, with a useful critical introduction and many poems by both canonical and non-canonical writers that are not commonly included. I particularly like the fact that the volume is structured by author rather than thematically or chronologically, as it takes student readers in particular away from a simplistic perception of First World War poetry as evolving from naive patriotism to disillusionment. * Dr Ann-Marie Einhaus, Northumbria University *

About Tim Kendall (Professor of English Literature, University of Exeter)

Tim Kendall has taught at the universities of Oxford, Newcastle, and Bristol before becoming Professor and Head of English at the University of Exeter. His publications include Modern English War Poetry (OUP, 2006), The Oxford Handbook of British and Irish War Poetry (ed.) (OUP, 2007), and The Art of Robert Frost (Yale UP, 2012). He is currently writing the Very Short Introduction on War Poetry. He is co-editor (with Philip Lancaster) of The Complete Literary Works of Ivor Gurney (OUP, forthcoming).

Table of Contents

Thomas Hardy (1840-1928) A. E. Housman (1859-1936) May Sinclair (1863-1946) W. B. Yeats (1865-1939) Laurence Binyon (1869-1943) Charlotte Mew (1869-1928) Robert Service (1874-1958) Edward Thomas (1878-1917) Wilfrid Wilson Gibson (1878-1962) Mary Borden (1886-1968) Siegfried Sassoon (1886-1967) Rupert Brooke (1887-1915) Julian Grenfell (1888-1915) T. P. Cameron Wilson (1888-1918) Patrick Shaw Stewart (1888-1917) Ivor Gurney (1890-1937) Isaac Rosenberg (1890-1918) Arthur Graeme West (1891-1917) Wilfred Owen (1893-1918) Margaret Postgate Cole (1893-1980) May Wedderburn Cannan (1893-1973) Charles Sorley (1895-1915) Robert Graves (1895-1985) David Jones (1895-1974) Edmund Blunden (1896-1974) Edgell Rickword (1898-1982) Music Hall and Trench Songs

Additional information

CIN0198797370G
9780198797371
0198797370
Poetry of the First World War: An Anthology by Tim Kendall (Professor of English Literature, University of Exeter)
Used - Good
Hardback
Oxford University Press
20170413
368
N/A
Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary.
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