How does he find the time? The man astounds me. In all his wonderful ways. ( )

Stephen Fry escorts his readers through a lively and straightforward course on meter, rhyme, form, diction, and poetics. Witty anecdotes and example poems are included in each section, which are concluded with challenging and enjoyable exercises. For more information on the book, check out the review I wrote for Powells.com: http://www.powells.com/review/2007_03... ( )

I have been on a Stephen Fry binge: watching his quiz show, enjoying his sketch comedy, reading his blog entries (or "blessays" as he calls them), and learning from his documentary on bipolar disorder (from which he suffers). Nothing better than a witty British polymath, I say.

Therefore it follows that I would enjoy his book The Ode Less Travelled, in which Fry confessed a "dark and dreadful secret" -- he writes verse. The book is an amusing and user-friendly guide to how poetry works and what form it takes. It is also a polemic in favor of form and a screed against formless modern poetry. He really hates the latter, calling it "emotional masturbation" and "arse-water" and other colorful things. I happen to agree with him, so I find all this very amusing.

I also found The Ode Less Travelled a fine handbook, useful for reminding myself why poetry is worth reading and writing. I used to engage in both pursuits a lot more often. Fry's exuberance and example may lead me back to them.

Yes, just shut up being a smartarse for one minute, please, Stephen. You have some useful information to impart to us. ( )

A must for any fan of Stephen Fry. I wish I’d had this book while learning poetry in school – it’s clear, in-depth enough to be taken seriously yet not so much as to be pedestrian, and entertaining. Not like the typical boring texts I was forced to slog through. Writing this was obviously a labor of love: as I read, I could hear Fry’s voice – no mean feat for a writer. I’ll admit that I didn’t take the time to do all of the Exercises, though I’m sure I will when I’ve bought my own copy (I borrowed it from the library). It’s definitely a book that I want to own and read again. ( )