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Synopsis
The First World War produced an extraordinary flowering of poetic talent, poets whose words commemorate the conflict more personally and as enduringly as monuments in stone. Lines such as 'What passing-bells for these who die as cattle?' and 'They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old' have come to express the feelings of a nation about the horrors and aftermath of war. This new anthology provides a definitive record of the achievements of the Great War
poets. As well as offering generous selections from the celebrated soldier-poets, including Wilfred Owen, Siegfried Sassoon, Rupert Brooke, and Ivor Gurney, it also incorporates less well-known writing by civilian and women poets. Music hall and trench songs provide a further lyrical perspective on
the War. A general introduction charts the history of the war poets' reception and challenges prevailing myths about the war poets' progress from idealism to bitterness. The work of each poet is prefaced with a biographical account that sets the poems in their historical context.
Although the War has now passed out of living memory, its haunting of our language and culture has not been exorcised. Its poetry survives because it continues to speak to and about us. New & Used
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What Reviewers Are Saying
What makes this anthology invaluable is the attention to detail. Not only is there an acutely perceptive general introduction, but all the poets - including the often misunderstood Rupert Brooke - receive a sympathetic and well judge individual introduction, together with a wealth of biographical and bibliographical information. * Agenda, N. S. Thompson * Kendall's introductory essay is a thoughtful contribution to the history of the war poetry. With the political point scoring that will dominate the major part of the media and political debate [during] the centenary, Kendall's collection reminds us of the human cost of that conflict, and of any conflict. * The Use of English, Anil Malhotra * Kendall's judicious selections, and his concise and useful introductions to each of the chosen poets, suggest that his anthology will become a standard work * Sean O'Brien, The Times Literary Supplement * The Oxford University Press anthology The Poetry of the First World War, edited by Tim Kendall, offers a counterweight to this year's public commemorations and it is a superb selection. * David Collard, Times Literary Supplement * Superb anthology. * Mail on Sunday * A superb, unbeatable collection * Bel Mooney, Daily Mail * The best poetry collection I read brilliantly edited, with illuminating notes. * Jerard Bretts, the guardian * This is a thoroughly well produced anthology of powerful and fascinating poems. * Sheenagh Pugh * This is much the best selection yet made ... Kendall selects brilliantly. * Peter McDonald, Times Literary Supplement * As a student-friendly definition of the Great War canon, and as a piece of meticulous scholarship, this one will be hard to beat. * George Simmers, Great War Fiction * This is a book worthy of any bookshelf. * Evil Cyclist's Blog * Superb. * Weekly Standard * This is a wonderful resource, with a useful critical introduction and many poems by both canonical and non-canonical writers that are not commonly included. I particularly like the fact that the volume is structured by author rather than thematically or chronologically, as it takes student readers in particular away from a simplistic perception of First World War poetry as evolving from naive patriotism to disillusionment. * Dr Ann-Marie Einhaus, Northumbria University *