William Wordsworth: 21st-Century Oxford Authors
0
0
As an Amazon Associate and affiliate partner, Menrva Books earns from qualifying purchases. Learn more
Author Description
The Wordsworth volume in the 21st-Century Oxford Authors series is the most comprehensive selection currently available of the poetry and prose of one of the finest poets in the English language. The familiar poems from Wordsworth's 'Great Decade' are all included, but they are complemented by a more than usually generous selection of the best poems from his later years. The extracts from the Guide to the Lakes will be a revelation to many readers, as will the political prose of the Convention of Cintra. All of the material is presented in chronological sequence, so that the reader can see how Wordsworth's changing concerns were expressed in prose as well as poetry. Work which Wordsworth published is separated from that which he did not reveal, which will enable the reader to trace through successive published volumes the development of Wordsworth's public poetic self, while also being able to follow the growth of the body of poetry which, for whatever reason, Wordsworth did not choose to make public when it was written - The Prelude being the greatest and most obvious example.
Menrva's Summary
THE THESIS
This volume investigates the evolution of William Wordsworth's poetic identity by presenting a comprehensive, chronologically ordered selection of his published and unpublished works. Stephen S. Gill, a noted scholar of Romantic literature, utilizes this collection to argue that Wordsworth's development is best understood by examining the interplay between his celebrated 'Great Decade' poetry and his often-overlooked later prose and private writings. By organizing the material to distinguish between public and private output, the book provides a framework for analyzing how the poet's shifting political and personal concerns manifested across different literary forms.
THE SCOPE MAP
What You Will Find
- A chronological arrangement of poetry and prose spanning Wordsworth's entire career.
- Inclusion of significant prose works such as 'Guide to the Lakes' and 'Convention of Cintra'.
- A clear distinction between works published during the author's lifetime and those withheld from the public.
- Contextual analysis of the development of the 'public poetic self' versus private creative growth.
THE AUTHORITY PERSPECTIVE
Scholars and students of Romanticism frequently identify this collection as a foundational resource due to its inclusion of both canonical poetry and essential prose. Readers often note the academic rigor of the editorial choices, which allow for a nuanced understanding of Wordsworth's literary trajectory.
Page Count:
840
Publication Date:
2012-03-21
Publisher:
Oxford University Press
ISBN-10:
0199699593
ISBN-13:
9780199699599
Non-Fiction
Poetry
Biography
British literature
Literary Criticism
