In this book, Peter Levi, poet, biographer, classicist and critic looks at poets and poetry through the centuries and in many languages. Simply, without technicalities, and with quotation. Levi seeks to instruct and encourage young and old readers of poetry. Based on the lectures given by Levi as holder of the prestigious Chair of Poetry at Oxford University between 1984-9, the book sheds light on a varied selection of poets ranging from Aeschylus, Horace, Shakespeare and Milton to Auden, Larkin, Lear, Pound and James Fenton. Levi communicates real enjoyment of poetry and pride in the poet's art. "My approach", he writes, "mostly comes from tacking the poems perfectly seriously as human statements, murmuring with pleasure over their technique, and casting a beady glance at history and literary history".
- ISBN10 0300048475
- ISBN13 9780300048476
- Publish Date 27 March 1991
- Publish Status Out of Print
- Out of Print 14 April 2000
- Publish Country US
- Imprint Yale University Press
- Format Hardcover
- Pages 336
- Language English