
A classic anthology of British verse, Francis Turner Palgave's The Golden Treasury is an invaluable collection of the best-known and most widely celebrated poets of the British Isles. First published in 1861, the Treasury has been updated many times over the years. In this, the Fifth Edition, John Press includes a "Fifth Book" which greatly enriches the original collection with recent work. The anthology spans several centuries, from Spenser, John Clare, the Brownings, Shakespeare, Shelley, and Tennyson to Edward Lear, Phillip Larkin, Ted Hughes, Thom Gunn, Jon Silkin, T.S. Eliot, and many more. Complete with insightful, line-by-line notes, this volume will delight and inform both the student of literature and the general lover of poetry. The definitive introduction to the best of British verse, The Golden Treasury remains a testament to the richness of our native poetic language.
This anthology investigates the question of what constitutes the most significant and enduring lyrical poetry within the British tradition from the Elizabethan era to the mid-twentieth century. Francis T. Palgrave, a nineteenth-century critic and poet, established the original framework for this collection, which was later expanded by John Press to include modern voices. The work utilizes a chronological selection process to demonstrate the evolution of poetic form, meter, and thematic concerns across several centuries of English verse. By curating a specific canon, the text argues for the preservation of lyrical excellence as a foundational element of the English language.
What You Will Find
Scope Limits
Critics and scholars recognize this volume as a foundational anthology that has shaped the academic canon of British poetry for over a century. Readers frequently note the density of the historical context provided in the notes, which serves as a standard reference for students of literature.
Page Count:
638
Publication Date:
1987-03-12
ISBN-10:
0192820354
ISBN-13:
9780192820358
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