Synopses & Reviews
Before the Door of God traces the development of devotional English-language poetry from its origins in ancient hymnody to its current twenty-first-century incarnations. The poems in this volume demonstrate not only that devotional poetryand#8212;poetry that speaks to the divineand#8212;remains in vigorous practice, but also that the tradition reaches back to the very origins of poetry in English. There is a sense in these pages that the tradition of lyric poetry that developed was nearly inevitable, given the inherent concerns of the genre.and#160;Featuring the work of poets over a three-thousand-year period, Before the Door of God places the devotional lyric in its cultural, historical, and aesthetic contexts. The volume traces the various influences on this tradition and identifies features that persist in devotional lyric poetry across centuries, cultures, and stylistic differences. To scholars, literary professionals, and general readers who find delight in fine poetry, this anthology offers much to contemplate and discuss.and#160;
Review
and#8220;Crucial . . . spans the entirety of the English poetry canon . . .and#160;It is difficult to imagine English poetry without the stunningly memorable devotional poetry included in this bookand#160;. . . Groundbreaking.and#8221;and#8212;Philip Metres,and#160;Cleveland Plain Dealer
Review
andldquo;The moments in which we reach for prayer [are] the moments in which this book becomes indispensable. Johnson and Hopler are expert curators, and the book they have made is for anyone interested in the questions we ask when there arenandrsquo;t any immediate answers.andrdquo;andmdash;Luke Johnson, Marginalia Review of Books
Review
Runer-up for the 2014 Great Southeast Book Festival in the Poetry category. Luke Johnson - Marginalia Review of Books
Review
“This rich and unique compendium of poetry will delight those interested in traditional English poems of devotion, in the ancient roots of the tradition, and in contemporary devotional poets who may be less familiar. . . . The surprises in this collection are manifold.”—J. P. Baumgaertner, Choice Great Southeast Book Festival - JM Northern Media LLC
Synopsis
A diverse and imaginative selection of works from the long tradition of devotional poetry in English
Synopsis
A diverse and imaginative selection of works from the long tradition of devotional poetry in English
Before the Door of God traces the development of devotional English-language poetry from its origins in ancient hymnody to its current twenty-first-century incarnations. The poems in this volume demonstrate not only that devotional poetry poetry that speaks to the divine remains in vigorous practice, but also that the tradition reaches back to the very origins of poetry in English. There is a sense in these pages that the tradition of lyric poetry that developed was nearly inevitable, given the inherent concerns of the genre.Featuring the work of poets over a three-thousand-year period, Before the Door of God places the devotional lyric in its cultural, historical, and aesthetic contexts. The volume traces the various influences on this tradition and identifies features that persist in devotional lyric poetry across centuries, cultures, and stylistic differences. To scholars, literary professionals, and general readers who find delight in fine poetry, this anthology offers much to contemplate and discuss."
About the Author
Jay Hopler is associate professor of English at the University of South Florida. He received the prestigious Yale Series of Younger Poets Award in 2005, as well as several other awards, for his first book of poems, Green Squall. He lives in Tampa, FL. Kimberly Johnson is professor of English at Brigham Young University. She is the author of two collections of poetry and a translation of Virgiland#39;s Georgics, as well as a number of scholarly works on Renaissance literature. She lives in Salt Lake City, UT.