Synopses & Reviews
With its combination of poetic brilliance and exquisite art, the Poetry for Young People series has won the admiration of critics, educators, children, and parents. Every breathtaking volume in this acclaimed, bestselling collection features magnificent full-color illustrations that enhance each verse, and a renowned scholars guidance to help children understand and love poetry. Theres an introduction to each poem, full annotations that define unfamiliar vocabulary, and fascinating biographical information.The star of this superb new entry in the series is 18th century artist and poet William Blake, who wrote his mystical, spirit-filled verses for children and adults alike. Best known for his masterpieces Songs of Innocence” and Songs of Experience”both excerpted herehe speaks of love, hate, anguish, relief and above all, mercy and the divine image that comforts us. Blake often uses simple, lovely language that young readers can appreciate, as well as animal metaphors; his poems sometimes even come in pairs, with the same subjects seen from different points of view. Professor John Maynard (Poetry for Young People: Alfred Lord Tennyson) provides the excellent biography and notes. Artist Alessandra Cimatoribus contributes richly colored and magically rendered paintings that fully capture the gentleness of The Lamb,” the sparkling deep blue sky and angels of Night,” and The Tyger,” eyes glistening and sharp teeth baredburning bright.
Review
PRAISE FOR POETRY FOR YOUNG PEOPLE:It is particularly heartening to come upon
the Poetry for Young People series, [which] should be commended for recognizing that secure stepping stones hold infinitely more hope than forced marches.” Washington Post Book WorldNothing short of breathtaking.” ParentsSatisfies in every way.” School Library JournalEngaging
both informs and intrigues.” Booklist
Synopsis
The Oxford Poetry Library series offers compact and fully annotated editions of some of the most important and best-loved English poets. Drawing on the acclaimed texts of the Oxford Authors series, these collections provide a generous selection of the verse of figures as diverse as Andrew
Marvell and William Blake, John Keats and Thomas Hardy. Ideal for anyone interested in the eloquently wrought observations and thoughts of some of the English language's greatest writers, The Oxford Poetry Library should find a welcome place on the bookshelves of all lovers of literature.
Beginning his career as an engraver, it was not until his thirties that William Blake distinguished himself as a poet. This new edition of Blake's verse, presented in chronological order, encompasses Blake's entire career, from his early Poetical Sketches and There is No Natural Religion through
his best known work Songs of Innocence, part of his beautiful series of poetry in lyric and blank verse, to his later works Jerusalem and The Everlasting Gospel. Representing the full range of Blake's accomplishements as a poet, this outstanding volume highlights the extraordinarily diverse
achievments of his remarkable poetic oeuvre.