Stephen Burt and David Mikics present 100 sonnets, from Thomas Wyatt (1557) to D. A. Powell (2009), and proceed to analyze the sonnets to show how they work. This isn’t some dry, academic dissection. Burt and Mikics bring a vast amount of knowledge of poetics and literary history to their insightful analysis. This is the best contemporary book I’ve read on poetry in years. If you have any interest in poetry, you’ll love this book as much as I did. GRADE: A
Once again, George, you are my hero for breadth of interests.
THE ART OF THE SONNET is a brilliant book, Patti. I’m always attracted to good writing on interesting subjects.
This certainly does sound like a good one, though at my reading speed, plus the subject matter (needs careful, slow reading) it would take me forever to earn back in value the effort I’d want to give it. That’s not to say I won’t buy it, but it’s pretty far down the list.
It took me a while to read THE ART OF THE SONNET, Rick. But there’s delight on every page! Great poetry and great insights…what more could you ask for!
Did anyone ever write about ART OF THE LIMERICK ?
Cyril Bibby’s Art of the Limerick is out of print, Dan. But your local library should have a copy.