Modern Poems: An Introduction to Poetry

by Richard Ellmann, Robert O'Clair (Editor)

This anthology, devised for undergraduate poetry courses, is drawn from the grand sweep of modern verse in English from Walt Whitman to the present. The editors have selected poems that "teach" important techniques of qualities of poetry, that are particularly enjoyable or accessible, or that are so excellent that they demand inclusion in any overview of modern poetry. The result is uncommonly varied and inviting.

Genres: Poetry, Anthologies

526 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1976

About the author

Richard David Ellmann was an American literary critic and biographer of the Irish writers James Joyce, Oscar Wilde, and William Butler Yeats. He won the U.S. National Book Award for Nonfiction for James Joyce (1959), one of the most acclaimed literary biographies of the 20th century. Its 1982 revised edition won James Tait Black Memorial Prize. Ellmann was a liberal humanist, and his academic work focuses on the major modernist writers of the 20th century.

Reviews

[Matt · Rating 5 out of 5]

What's not to like, really? This book is a pretty decent anthology of modern poems, as the title probably made clear already. My only complain would be that it was last updated in the 80s, so some of the biographical information is out of dead (the dead are still alive, blaaaah!). Anyway, I'm sure this will come in handy down the line for other classes or just to have wide-ranging collection of poems.

[Jack Coleman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another gem picked up at good old library book sale.
On of my best investments yet.Great anthology with good bio info on the
poets.Its not only great for the poetry lover its a great reference book
when the novels you read reference pieces of poetry, leaving you wanting to know more.

[Victoria · Rating 2 out of 5]

Those two stars? Are there for Emily Dickinson and Sylvia Plath (And all the other female writers that my class didn't read). That's all.

[Carol · Rating 3 out of 5]

got it as assigned reading in college, and finally finished it. It was alright and if you like poetry it should be right up your alley.

[Rosa]

“Tomatoes Vinaigrette.”

[Nathan Eilers · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is wonderful anthology of poetry from the modern period--and even before and after it. There are many famous writers and poems to be found here, and the introductions are usually helpful without being too long. I pretended I was going to read the book all the way through, but it didn't happen. I'll leave my bookmark in, and maybe someday I'll pick it up again.

[Andrés · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent poetry anthology

[Benji Bright · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've carried this collection around with me to every apartment I've ever lived in. Essential.