The Metaphysical Poets (Penguin Classics)

Rating:
Summary: Well chosen collection of fine poetry
Review: Contrary to what you may believe the poets collectively known as "metaphysical" wrote surprisingly earthy and personal poetry. While it is not as easy to understand as some poetry writers such as Donne and Marvell are quite approachable with a little effort and aid from Gardner's excellent introduction and footnotes.

The poets represented here cover a good selection of this Elizabethan style. (Elizabeth herself is represented by a verse). Gardner has wisely chosen the poets and their poems. Have this volume if only to read the verse of Donne and Marvell, heck, if only to read "The Sonne Rising" and "To My Coy Mistress". Certainly this would be an excellent place to start in a study of the metaphysical poets.

Rating:
Summary: Good collection and introduction
Review: Contrary to what you may believe the poets collectively known as "metaphysical" wrote surprisingly earthy and personal poetry. While it is not as easy to understand as some poetry writers such as Donne and Marvell are quite approachable with a little effort and aid from Gardner's excellent introduction and footnotes.

The poets represented here cover a good selection of this Elizabethan style. (Elizabeth herself is represented by a verse). Gardner has wisely chosen the poets and their poems. Have this volume if only to read the verse of Donne and Marvell, heck, if only to read "The Sonne Rising" and "To My Coy Mistress". Certainly this would be an excellent place to start in a study of the metaphysical poets.

Rating:
Summary: Good collection and introduction
Review: Good introduction that gives a short and useful overview of the features of metaphysical poetry. It also gives alternative viewpoints that argue against metaphysical poetry without trying to negate them. Indeed, the poetry is described as being the product of a closed world of learned writers from the late 16thC onwards. This, it appears, is both a weakness and a strength. Refreshing to hear this.

Her style at times leans towards the metaphysical itself: 'A brief comparison can be a conceit if two things patently unlike, or which we should never think of together, are shown to be alike in a single point in such a way, or in such a context, that we feel their incongruity'. So to help understand the poetry we have an introduction that is partly written in a 'stong lines' style and which needs almost the same amount of concentration as the poetry.

There is a bit of literary name dropping: 'Between Dryden and Johnson comes Pope, who is reported by Spence to have remarked that "Cowley, as well as Davenant, borrowed his metaphysical style from Donne"'.

The spellings have not been modernised which may be a problem.

Overall recommened strongly.

Rating:
Summary: very challenging poetry
Review: My ex-girlfriend lent me her dog eared copy of this anthology once...I read through portions of it...she told me who her personal favorites were and I concentrated on them, and on poets whom I had at least heard of, such as Milton and John Donne. I thought it was interesting that the term "Metaphysical Poets" was never used contemporaneously with these poets and their poems, but rather the term is a collective afterthought, coined centuries later...and, it was initially meant as an insult to this type of poetry by those reacting against it in later styles. (Not unlike the story behind the coining of the "Big Bang Theory" in popular parlance--first created by the theory's detractors as a dismissive insult)...I have always been more of a prose novel and short fiction person myself, so poetry is inherently difficult and alien to me as a rule; But THESE poems are by far some of the most difficult verse I've ever tried to wrap my mind around. Thank goodness for the copious line notation footnotes or I'd've been really lost. I thought it ironic that my ex would think I'd like these poems--I'm pretty ANTI-metaphysical if anything; German Expressionism and Dada and Modernism in general are more up my alley...but be that as it may, these poems did grow on me over time. After I gave back my ex-girfriend's copy I went ahead and ordered myself a copy at my local bookstore. Still not really my cup of tea, but...ah well...worthy addition to my bookshelf at any rate.

Rating:
Summary: All around an excellent compilation of a difficult subject
Review: This book is an excellent compilation of this fine period in English poetry. The name "Metaphysical" is often given to intimidate people who have no knowledge about English poetry (in fact, for those of you who are shallow, this book has the unintended bonus that you get to tell people that you know what metaphysical poetry is, which will probably impress them a lot), but this book does a good job of enlightening this subject. If you like poetry this would be a great book to read. It includes a fair amount of biographical material, which I believe is imnportant.