The First Poets
by Michael Schmidt
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Description
"In The First Poets, Schmidt rescues the lives of classical Greek poets from their relative obscurity. Here is Orpheus, the first of the first poets, healer, mystic, and magical fixer; and Homer, about whom almost nothing is known for certain except the magnificence of his two great epic poems. Here are Linos and Arion, who survive only in legend; and Amphion, who survives through the tales we ascribe to him. Here are Sappho, the greatest Greek woman writer, and Hesiod; Hipponax, the "dirty show more old man of poetry"; and Theocritus, the father of the pastoral; and many others." "Combining the verifiable facts of their lives and the narratives provided by later writers, Schmidt walks the fine line between fact and scholarly conjecture to create vivid, animated, wonderfully compelling portraits of these ancestors of our culture."--Jacket. show lessTags
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Member Reviews
The short essays in this book lift the ancient Greek poets out of obscurity. Thus informed the reader may better enjoy the foundations of poetry for the culture of the West. The portraits presented here combine facts and scholarly conjecture to provide a background that informs understanding both the poetry and the culture of Ancient Greece. While scholarly, the essays will profit the attentive reader who shares the author's love of Classical Greece.
This is a fairly comprehensive survey including most important ancient Greek poets. It includes fairly even biographies of each poet, with some selection of their verses; although one would want to see more verses. But those included are typically given adequate explanations that help increase understanding of the poet.
Each poet is covered in 10-15 pages. The book is useful both for learning and entertainment; also is a valuable reference tool.
Each poet is covered in 10-15 pages. The book is useful both for learning and entertainment; also is a valuable reference tool.
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Author Information
49+ Works 1,588 Members
Michael Schmidt is the editor of PN Review, which he established in 1972; the founder and editorial director of Carcanet Press, which publishes poetry and fiction; and the director of the writing school at Manchester Metropolitan University in Manchester, England.
Common Knowledge
- Canonical title
- The First Poets
- Alternate titles
- The First Poets
- Original publication date
- 2005
- Dedication
- For Angel García Gómez
"fixing emblazoned zones and fiery poles" - Publisher's editor
- McKernan, Maggie; Falconer, Kelly; Egerton, Keith
Classifications
- Genres
- Literature Studies and Criticism, Fiction and Literature, Biography & Memoir, Poetry
- DDC/MDS
- 881.0109 — Literature & rhetoric Classical & modern Greek literatures Classical Greek poetry Different categories of Greek classical poetry Philosophy and Theory Archaic
- LCC
- PA3064 .S36 — Language and Literature Greek language and literature. Latin language and literature Greek literature Literary history
- BISAC
Statistics
- Members
- 159
- Popularity
- 205,250
- Reviews
- 2
- Rating
- (3.56)
- Languages
- English
- Media
- Paper, Ebook
- ISBNs
- 6
