The Best Poems of the English Language: From Chaucer Through Frost (2004)

The fault of The Best Poems of the English Language is the problem that all anthologies have: the limitations of space and the fact that, while trying to include as wide a variety of poets as possible, one is reduced to reading only a few fragmentary pieces of each one. But, it is fantastic to have such a wide range of splendid, beautiful verse in one volume and serves as a good introduction to a wide range of poets, who's complete works can then be sought out by the reader.

I have to admit to being of two minds about editor Harold Bloom's introductory essay. When he delves into analysis he is insightful and interesting, particularly his observations regarding artists conciously and unconciously building from the work of previous masters. On the other hand, Bloom can really come across as a snob. In his frequent digressions into "bad" poetry - and Edgar Alan Poe is his favourite whipping boy here - he grows tiresome.

Bloom's introductions to various poets are inconsistent in length and usefulness. While some are interesting and informative, others are actually embarrassing. Or perhaps I am not clever enough to grasp the nuances of an introduction to Lewis Carroll that devolves into a defense of pedophilia (oh, those eleven year old enchantresses!) an attack on groups trying to prevent sexual harassment and then culminates with an attack on a totally unrelated author.

In any case the poems themselves are wonderful, and offer a fantastic overview of English and American poetry from Geoffrrey Chaucer to Hart Crane and including John Donne, John Milton, Emily Dickinson, T.S. Eliot, Walt Whitman, etc. etc. Some are very well known, others are rarely read outside of academia so there are plenty of gems and surprises. And while I was disappointed with Bloom's introduction for him I was thrilled to see Lewis Carroll included in this anthology.

This is a very fine collection of poems, since I do love most of the poets and the pieces featured here, and I am very glad to have a copy of the book in my personal library. ( )

No clarifications of difficult words or annotations ( )

I guess the publisher came up with this book's title: "Poems from England and the United States that I Feel Like Anthologising, with Some Notes on Poets I Hate" would have been more accurate, but isn't as catchy. ( )