A comprehensive guide to world poetry history and sources
Discover a sweeping reference that gathers the poetry of many times and places, with clear notes and helpful tools to study and compare. This edition helps readers understand origins, forms, and historical contexts in one accessible volume.
This compendium serves as a solid foundation for students, teachers, and poetry lovers. It compiles works and fragments, explains terms and metres, and points readers to editions and translations. The book emphasizes a practical, reader-friendly approach to the long arc of poetic tradition.
- Curated selections and fragments from classic poets across eras and cultures
- Explanatory notes that illuminate forms, meters, and historical context
- Synoptical tables and a chronological digest to compare movements and authors
- A copious index to help you find topics, names, and terms quickly
Ideal for readers seeking a reliable, portable reference to poetry’s origin, nature, and history, and for those building background for study or enjoyment of poetry’s vast landscape.