Active Anthology
edited by Ezra Pound (1933)
Admirable Anthologies: Jazz, Pulp, Pigs, Teapots & Poetry
You love literature so copies of The Norton Anthology of English Literature by M. H. Abrams (volumes 1 and 2) already have a prime spot on your bookshelf. Norton’s anthologies of short fiction and poetry are probably also up there.
But there is a lot more to anthologies than Norton. This selection dives into the unheralded but vast array of anthologies published over the past 80 years and many are out-of-print. Of course, there are numerous collections of poetry and short stories because both are ideal for anthologies where the reader craves diversity and varying styles of writing throughout the book.
The real beauty of an anthology is if a poem or short story isn’t too hot then another will be along in a moment. Many famous names from Ezra Pound to Graham Greene and Bruce Sterling have compiled anthologies and carefully selected how one piece of literature will complement the next.
We can proudly offer anthologies on symbolic pigs, British teapots, farming stories, bullfighting, jazz fiction, the Guinness brewery, the occult, war poetry, Welsh poetry, nature poetry, naughty children and more science fiction than you can launch at space rocket at.
A Selection of Admirable Anthologies
The European Caravan: An Anthology of the New Spirit in European Literature
(1931)
First US appearance of Samuel Beckett. Contributors include W.H. Auden, T.S. Eliot and Jean Cocteau.
The Symbolic Pig. An Anthology of Pigs in Literature and Art
by FC Sillar & RM Meyler (1961)
Illustrated by Oliver Holt. An exploration of pigs celebrated in print and paint.
An Anthology of British Teapots
by Philip Miller & Michael Berthoud (1985)
Cuppa anyone? Everything you ever needed to know about teapots and thousands of photos.
Biography of the Bulls: An Anthology of Spanish Bullfighting
edited by Rex Smith (1957)
Printed in Mexico. Stories, essays, articles & poetry from Steinbeck, Hemingway and others.
No Place Like Earth: A Science Fiction Anthology
edited by John Carnell (1952)
Reprinted several times. Ten short stories and a memorable dust jacket by Denis McLoughlin.
He is Legend: An Anthology Celebrating Richard Matheson
(2009)
Contributors include Stephen King, his son Joe Hill, and Matheson’s son, Richard Christian Matheson.
Furrow's End: An Anthology of Great Farm Stories
edited by David B. Greenberg (1946)
This hard to find collection includes E.B. White, Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings and William Saroyan.
Others: An Anthology of the New Verse
edited by Alfred Kreymborg (1917)
Includes T.S. Eliot's Rhapsody on a Windy Night & Wallace Stevens’ 13 Ways of Looking at a Blackbird
Branded West: A Western Writers of America Anthology
by Don Ward (1956)
Includes stories from Elmore Leonard, Bill Gulick and Todhunter Ballard
The Mysterious Press Anniversary Anthology
edited by William Malloy (2001)
25 years of mystery writing - M.C. Beaton, Stuart Kaminsky, Ed McBain, Donald E. Westlake & others.
Welsh Voices: An Anthology of New Poetry from Wales
by Bryn Griffiths (1967)
Includes poems from Vernon Watkins, Harri Webb, Herbert Williams and John Stuart Williams
The Astounding Science Fiction Anthology
edited by John W Campbell (1952)
Reprinted several times, includes Asimov, Lester Del Rey, Robert Heinlein & Lewis Padgett.
An Anthology of War Poems
compiled by Frederick Brereton (1930)
Introduction by Edmund Blunden, includes work by legends like Brooke, Graves, Owen & Sassoon.
Contemporary American Men Poets: An Anthology of Verse
Au by 459 Living Poets (1937) edited by Thomas Del Vecchiothor
Work from Robert Frost, August W Derleth, Kenneth Patchen, Louis Ginsberg & others.
Jazz Parody, Anthology of Jazz Fiction
edited by Charles Harvey (1948)
14 stories and essays by Charles Delaunay, Charles Fox, Albert McCarthy & others.
Mirrorshades: An Anthology of Cyberpunk
edited by Bruce Sterling (1986)
Important collection, featuring Tom Maddox, Pat Cadigan, William Gibson, Mark Laidlaw & Greg Bear.
The Spy’s Bedside Book
compiled by Graham & Hugh Greene (1957)
Classic anthology of spy lit – Fleming, Buchan, Baden-Powell. Republished by Folio Society in 2006.
The First Saint Omnibus: An Anthology of Saintly Adventures
by Leslie Charteris (1939)
Reprinted several times. Thirteen Simon Templar short novels written between 1930 and 1939.
Middle East Anthology of Prose and Verse
edited by John Waller (1946)
Wartime production includes Lawrence Durrell, Sidney Keyes, Bernard Spencer & Olivia Manning
A Footprint on the Air: An Anthology of Nature Verse
(1983)
Illustrated Liz Graham-Yooll. Poems from Edward Thomas, Sylvia Plath, Charles Causley and others.
The Guinness Book of Guinness 1935-1985.
by Edward Guinness (1988)
Published by Guinness, and quite hard to find, this book celebrates the brewery’s first 50 years.
Illustrated Anthology of Sorcery, Magic and Alchemy
by Emile Grillot De Givry (1929)
Often reprinted. Large collection of occult iconography - 376 illustrations.
The Hardboiled Dicks: An Anthology and Study of Pulp Detective Fiction
edited by Ron Goulart (1965)
History and criticism of American detective & mystery stories. Contributors include Erle Stanley Gardner.
Naughty Children: An Anthology
compiled by Christianna Brand (1962)
Dickens, Gerald Durrell, Booth Tarkington, Charlotte Bronte & 45 illustrations by Edward Ardizzone
The Lake District: An Anthology
edited by Norman Nicholson (1978)
The Cumbrian poet offers literature on fells, dales, work, play, lake poets and customs.
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