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100 Best-Loved Poems (Dover Thrift Editions)…
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100 Best-Loved Poems (Dover Thrift Editions) (original 1995; edition 1995)

by Philip Smith (Editor)

MembersReviewsPopularityAverage ratingMentions
1,1091218,002 (3.7)9
No one in their right mind would argue the worth of the poems in this volume. If you’re interested in the verse that has shaped our culture, this is a great place to start.

I learned something about myself in reading this book, though—I prefer things in their context.:

* I’d rather listen to a representative album from an artist than a best-of CD.
* I prefer Biblical Theology to Systematic Theology because it allows each author to speak in his own voice.
* I would much rather have read these poems in their original context than ripped from their homes and forced into a best-of list.

This book is great—for a compilation. My next poetry read, though, will be the collected works of Robert Frost. ( )
1 vote StephenBarkley | Jul 22, 2009 |
Showing 13 of 13
A good brief selection of poetry in English. Some favorites and a few new finds. ( )
  wvlibrarydude | Jan 14, 2024 |
A good selection of poems covering 600 years. Of course, not everyone's best-loved poem or poet will be included, but it covers many styles of poetry. The poets in this collection are all English speaking which leaves many out many great poets and their work. Dover collections tend to be introductions to the subject or author they cover. Readers who regularly read poetry or already have their favorites will find this collection very incomplete. However, for those interested in poetry this is a great introduction. I like it as an ebook because I can keep it on my phone and randomly read a good poem anytime. ( )
  evil_cyclist | Mar 16, 2020 |
Christopher Marlowe has me awed about his poetry. He was killed at a very young age of 29 which I shall be soon. So his poetry felt terribly personal to me. Also, I am a big Shakespeare buff.
Marlowe in a deliciously lovely poem titled The Passionate Shepherd to his Love asks her in a simple line to,
Come live with me and be my Love
It sounds almost ethereal and enchanting in a voice that I read in and imagine to be Marlowe's. A deep, resonating baritone which when heard melts even the most hardened hearts. I particularly love the simple imagery he describes about sitting on rocks and seeing the shepherds feed their flocks. I am so very deeply smitten with Marlowe's words.

Also, this collection has a lovely composition of ballads. Poems from most of my favorite poets like Cummings, Edna St. Vincent Millay, Yeats, Pound, Marianne Moore, Dylan Thomas have been included and for this reason, this book is definitely a little special. Nothing like reading Dylan Thomas on a rainy night. ( )
  Sharayu_Gangurde | Jan 19, 2017 |
This book is a great collection of classic poetic works! It's great for introducing someone to most popular poets and their works. This edition also has plenty of marginal room for annotating. ( )
  bcd128 | Sep 26, 2016 |
I enjoyed reading the poem because it was something new to experience. The poem talked about different races and how we should come together. I am very excited that I had the opportunity to read this poem.
  Nasheema16 | Sep 25, 2016 |
I enjoyed this short collection of poetry by a fairly wide variety of poets. ( )
  dukefan86 | May 29, 2013 |
Excellent small anthology; easily worth spending $1.50 on if one happens to be using Amazon's free Super Saver shipping. ( )
  Audacity88 | Jun 12, 2010 |
I spent a restful rainy Sunday evening savoring the wonderful words, phrases and lyrical joy of reading this marvelous compilation of poetry.

Beginning with The Ballad of Lord Randal through Dylan Thomas’ Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night, I was transformed to a world where writing was concise, crisp, clear and every word was laden with meaning.

As the rain splashed on the sky light in the living room and the thunder clapped, I sat in an overstuffed chair, cup of tea in hand and delighted in the images that gently rolled through my mind. Finding some of these poems anew was as cleansing as the spring rain.

For instance, as I read A.E. Housman’s To an Athlete Dying Young, I saw Isak Dinesen, portrayed by Meryl Streep, as she stands at the graveside of Dennys Finch Hatton in the movie Out of Africa.

The time you won your town the race
We chaired you through the market-place;
Man and boy stood cheering by,
And home we brought you shoulder-high.

To-day, the road all runners come,
Shoulder-high we bring you home,
And set you at your threshold down,
Townsman of a stiller town.

Smart lad, to slip betimes away
From fields were glory does not stay
And early though the laurel grows
It withers quicker than the rose.

Eyes the shady night has shut
Cannot see the record cut,
And silence sounds no worse than cheers
After earth has stopped the ears:

Now you will not swell the rout
Of lads that wore their honours out,
Runners whom renown outran
And the name died before the man.

So set, before its echoes fade,
The fleet foot on the sill of shade,
And hold to the low lintel up
The still-defended challenge-cup.

And round that early-laurelled head
Will flock to gaze the strengthless dead,
And find unwithered on its curls
The garland briefer than a girl's. ( )
  Whisper1 | Apr 26, 2010 |
i own two copies of this book i keep one by my bedside and one in my office, a great book, to foster a burgeoning love of the music of poetry ( )
  Ringtales | Dec 19, 2009 |
No one in their right mind would argue the worth of the poems in this volume. If you’re interested in the verse that has shaped our culture, this is a great place to start.

I learned something about myself in reading this book, though—I prefer things in their context.:

* I’d rather listen to a representative album from an artist than a best-of CD.
* I prefer Biblical Theology to Systematic Theology because it allows each author to speak in his own voice.
* I would much rather have read these poems in their original context than ripped from their homes and forced into a best-of list.

This book is great—for a compilation. My next poetry read, though, will be the collected works of Robert Frost. ( )
1 vote StephenBarkley | Jul 22, 2009 |
A fair collection of the sort of thing that shows up on every college English syllabus. No longer works; poems are 2 pages or less. A good deal for $1.25. ( )
1 vote littlepiece | Nov 6, 2007 |
A collection of well-known poems by well-known authors which works well if you are just looking to acquaint yourself with poetry. However, some of the selections disappointed me and many of them left little to be analyzed. Not great for any Lit. major, but for a Dover Thrift of $1.25 I can't complain TOO much. ( )
2 vote legoretrout | Jun 18, 2007 |
This is a run of the mill anthology. It focuses primarily on English authors, and their most famous works. Decent. ( )
  tuckerresearch | Sep 11, 2006 |
Showing 13 of 13

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