Wordsworth Poems Selected by W.E. Williams

by William Wordsworth, Jenni Calder (Introduction), W.E. Williams (Editor)

One of the most enduringly popular of the Romantic poets, William Wordsworth epitomized the spirit of his age with his celebration of the natural world and his belief in the importance of feeling. This volume brings together a rich selection from the most creative period of Wordsworth’s life—from “Tintern Abbey,” an ode on the restorative powers of nature written during his intense friendship with Coleridge, to excerpts from his epic autobiographical poem, The Prelude. Also included are much-loved short works such as “I wandered as lonely as a Cloud,” “Composed Upon Westminster Bridge,” and the poignant “Lucy Gray.” These poems demonstrate Wordsworth’s astonishing range, power, and inventiveness, and the sustained and captivating vision that informed his work.

The inaugural volume in a new program of selected poetry especially commissioned for Penguin Classics Includes a chronology, suggestions for further reading, explanatory notes, and an index of titles and first lines In his introduction, Wordswort biographer Stephen Gill examines the personal and political events that shaped the poet's career and traces the major themes that run through his work

Genres: Poetry, Classics

192 pages, Paperback

Published September 3, 1985

About the author

William Wordsworth (1770-1850) was a major English romantic poet who, with Samuel Taylor Coleridge, helped launch the Romantic Age in English literature with their 1798 joint publication, Lyrical Ballads.

Wordsworth's masterpiece is generally considered to be The Prelude, an autobiographical poem of his early years, which the poet revised and expanded a number of times. The work was posthumously titled and published, prior to which, it was generally known as the poem "to Coleridge". Wordsworth was England's Poet Laureate from 1843 until his death in 1850.

Reviews

[Victoria · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant. Words cannot express how much i adore William Wordsworth. My edition is this cute little 1963 reprint with a yellow cover that i acquired from a lovely old lady who was moving house. She used it when she was studying his works, so it's filled with her notes!

[Ankit · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some good romantic poem collections. Themes of the poetries revolved around childhood, wandering, love life, and romanticism. I wasn't quite intrigued by the mental picture I formed; it's probably because of my diversion through that areas.

I am amazed by the unique writing style of Wordsworth; As I expected it to be before I read this book. Also, I get to read 1950th revised edition; which smelled like old woods, so that was intriguing in itself.

[Unbridled Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

I feel like I cheated a little reading this book, as I skipped over the last section, which was a story written in verse about the 'Wanderer.' I started that section but it was a bit dense, and I just couldn't finish it. My interest lie in his nature poetry, which I did finish.

I read through 78 pages of William Wordsworth poems and I can tell you this: this man observed nature and found the most amazing words to describe it, often with reminders of thankfulness for all that God has given us. Granted, he lived in the Lake District region of England, which many consider one of the most scenic areas of England, but much of what he writes about are things I see here in Michigan: daffodils, birds (okay, I don't have cuckoos or woodcocks here but I do have Northern Cardinals and hummingbirds). I think the magic in Wordsworth is not that he was surrounded by beauty but that he appreciated it so much, that his pen burst forth with verse! Also, he talks a lot about how children see the world around them with a playful eye, resting in the beauty and not rushing it past that. I loved that idea.

I'm glad to have read this book and I've entered pages of individual verses from his poems in my poetry journal, to include why it moved it. I'll use it as a reminder on those days I'm letting the world move by too quickly, so I can reset my gaze.

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

I keep trying to be someone who loves poetry, but I’m not. A few of these poems spoke to me, but mostly I had a hard time just paying attention.