A Critical History of English Poetry

by Herbert John Clifford Grierson, J.C. Smith

This famous work was the result of the wartime collaboration of two Scottish scholars. Their tracing of the course of English poetry has been described by The Times Literary Supplement as a ‘volume of masterly compression'. They deliberately spend most time on the greatest poets, believing that, significant as traditions and influences are, the great poet himself affects the spirit of his age and moulds the tradition he has inherited. At the same time, enough attention is paid to minor poets to make the book historically complete, and to fill in the most important links in the chain of poetic development. Thus Gower is here, as well as Chaucer; Patmore, as well as Browning. Both in scope and in detail A Critical History of English Poetry is a distinguished and valuable work.

548 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1944

About the author

Sir Herbert John Clifford Grierson often referred to as Herbert J.C. Grierson, was a Scottish literary scholar editor and literary critic.

He was educated at King's College, University of Aberdeen and Christ Church, Oxford. On graduating from the latter he was appointed Professor of English Literature at his Aberdeen alma mater, where he taught from 1894 to 1915, and subsequently became Knight Professor of English Literature at the University of Edinburgh (1915 – 1935).

He is credited with promoting interest in the metaphysical poets, especially John Donne, a revival more commonly attributed to T.S. Eliot. His special field of research was English poetry of the 17th century, but he was also interested in Walter Scott.

Reviews

[Mahmoud Keshk · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent book.

[Pulak]

its a good book to read and learn about history of English poetry