This poem establishes an easy rhythm, it has a swift pace, enhanced by the use of repition and rhyme and makes for a quick and easy read.

The imagery is often captivating - "the water, like a witch's oils,/ Burnt green, and blue, and white." or "Her lips were red, her looks were free/ Her locks were yellow as gold:/ Her skin was white as leprosy," are brief examples.

There are many famous lines, of course, "As idle as a painted ship/ Upon a painted ocean." and "Water, water, everywhere,/ Nor any drop to drink." immediately spring to mind.

This particular edition, published by Random House in 1994, is filled with full colour illustrations, mesmerizing paintings by Pogany which further draw the reader in and immerse him or her in the story.

The story itself is filled with spirits, demons and celestial beings, moves rapidly and is vastly captivating. This is an enjoyable poem, widely quoted and referenced and well worth the read. 4/5 ( )

This version, illustrated by cartoonist Hunt Emerson, takes the poem and makes it absolutely hillarious. I first came across Hunt Emmerson's cartoon version at Wordsworth museum in Grasmere, which put up an exhibition of illustrations of the poem in in which his work featured. At the time it was out of print, but I recently discovered this 2008 reprint, much to my delight. Apparently the Wordsworth Museum is in negotiation to purchase the original drawings. ( )

I'm glad that Folio Society dedicated their efforts to such short work, and in a single volume. The wood engravings by Garrick Palmer have the same gothic tone even if they are a little too abstract for my taste. I think that Palmer also did the wood engravings for the Folio Society's Moby Dick as well.

The poem itself is haunting and clever. I particularly like the moral of not hurting animals linked with the superstitions of sailors. I however fail to see all the connections to Christianity that other reviews mention. I think Coleridge was more fascinated by nature mysticism and old pagan believes and folksy form of story telling. Even though it took barely an hour to read slowly, the poem left me with a bit of a chill. Mainly because it leaves you wondering how much of the Mariners "rime" is a hallucination and how much is based in reality. ( )

10.0

A strange, occult tale of ghostly ships and terrifying curses written by a laudanum addict; whoever said the classics were boring? Coleridge's strange poem of a man who kills a mighty bird at sea and ends up cursed (or something, it's thick going without footnotes) is a favorite of English teachers who like to punish their students by making them write term papers about literature they might have otherwise enjoyed. While it induces a lot of groans from people, this is a beautiful piece of work.

(This review originally appeared on zombieunderground.net) ( )