The Best Poems of the English Language: From Chaucer Through Robert Frost

“To read Bloom’s insights here is to bask in the emanationof genius. As entertaining and erudite as his choices of the works he mostloves are, the book’s overriding strength is the guidance it gives, in contextand comprehension.” –Baltimore SunThis comprehensive anthology offers renowned critic HaroldBloom’s choice of the best of six centuries of great British and Americanpoetry, selected in accordance with his three absolute criteria: aestheticsplendor, intellectual power, and wisdom. In Bloom’s introductory essay “The Artof Reading Poetry,” he presents his critical reflections of more than half acentury devoted to reading, teaching, and writing about great verse, theliterary achievement he loves most. Throughout this volume, Bloom includesextensive introductions to each poet and to many of the individual poems. Morethan any other anthology, this book provides readers who desire the pleasuresof sublime art with nearly everything they need in a single volume.  Read more