Poetry of the First World War: An Anthology (Oxford World's Classics Hardback Collection) - Hardcover

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9780198797371: Poetry of the First World War: An Anthology (Oxford World's Classics Hardback Collection)

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0198797370 ISBN 13: 9780198797371

Publisher: Oxford University Press, 2017

'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.

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About the Author:

Tim Kendall, 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).

Review:

"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 01/12/2014

"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 13/01/2015

"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 07/11/14

"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 13/06/2014

"Superb anthology."

--Mail on Sunday 04/05/2014

"A superb, unbeatable collection"

--Bel Mooney, Daily Mail 30/12/2013

"The best poetry collection I read brilliantly edited, with illuminating notes."

--Jerard Bretts, the guardian 28/12/2013

"This is a thoroughly well produced anthology of powerful and fascinating poems."

--Sheenagh Pugh 26/12/2013

"This is much the best selection yet made ... Kendall selects brilliantly."

--Peter McDonald, Times Literary Supplement 27/11/2013

"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 07/11/2013

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