The New Oxford Book of Light Verse (2nd Hand Hardback)

Synopsis

Chosen & Edited by Kingsley Amis.

This delightful anthology celebrates a rich and pleasing - if often underrated - tradition of English writing.

The choice of poems reflects the great variety of light verse as well as the tastes and views of its distinguished editor. The selections range from genial satire to nonsense verse, from epigrams to limericks.

More than 250 poems by some 80 authors provide a witty and consistently entertaining survey of English verse from Rochester and Ben Jonson to Anthony Powell and Philip Larkin.

As Mr. Amis explains in a lively introduction, the principles on which he based this selection differ from those used by W.H. Auden in selecting for The Oxford Book of Light Verse (first published in 1938). Auden's definition of light was closer to popular than humorous. Amis's collection - which includes familiar favourites as well as previously unpublished masterpieces - is lighter in heart, closer to a modern understanding of the meaning of light.

Details

• Format : Slightly Smaller 2nd Hand Hardback with Dust Jacket
• Condition : Good
• Category : Fiction - Poetry & Plays
• Published : 1978 (This Edition 1979 - Oxford University Press)
• ISBN : 0192118625
• SKU : B002672
• PPC : SP500gm
• RRP : Unknown (Clipped)
• Quantity Available : 1 only.

1979. Reprinted. 347 pages. Pictorial dust jacket over blue cloth.

External Reviews

"A very comprehensive & enjoyable selection" - Gavin Ewart in The Observer.

"It's very good. Full of good stuff. I laughed aloud. Mr. Amis's selection . . . bears the imprint of his personality & taste." - The TES.

"Kingsley Amis's The New Oxford Book of English Light Verse is the best poetry collection of its sort that I know: a judiciously selected harvest of light verse, specifically English in origin, including both old favourites and generally undiscovered gems, with an introduction that is one of the best things written on the genre. I think everyone, including readers for whom poetry is not usually a major interest, would enjoy this book." - Goodreads Review.

The Editor

Sir Kingsley William Amis CBE was an English novelist, poet, critic and teacher. He wrote more than 20 novels, six volumes of poetry, a memoir, short stories, radio and television scripts, and works of social and literary criticism.