The Oxford Book of War Poetry

by John Stallworthey

This anthology of 250 war poems was first published in 1988 to coincide with the 70th Anniversary of the Armistice of 1918. They range from Homer and the Bible to John Betjeman, Randell Jarrell, James Fenton and Roy Fuller by way of Chaucer, Coleridge, Emily Dickinson and Hardy to name a few of the poets included. The selection is arranged chronologically by conflict, to produce a history of warfare as seen by some of the most eloquent observers and chroniclers of its effects. It reveals the shift of social awareness of the state of war and includes a selection from the classics, medieval poetry and poetry of the Civil War and the 18th and 19th centuries, plus a scrutiny of the two World Wars and Vietnam, violence in Northern Ireland and El Salvador ending with visions of the "next war". Jon Stallworthy is editor of the "Penguin Book of Love Poetry". His biography "Wilfred Owen" won the Duff Cooper Memorial Prize, the W.H. Smith Literary Award and the E.M. Forster Award of the American Academy of Arts and Letters.

Genres: Poetry, War, Nonfiction, Literature, History, Military History, Anthologies

388 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1984

Reviews

[Cathleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

A rather definitive collection of war poetry, including some from non-Western cultures.

[lucia]

stay right there babygirl im coming back for u

[Johanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this collection of poems very much. It was interesting to follow the change in how wars are depicted - since the poems are ordered in chronological order to the wars they each tell of.

My favorite authors, which I will probably be looking more into are - in no particular order:

John Donne (1572-1631)
John Dryden (1631-1700)
Daniel Defoe (1660-1731)
Samuel Johnson (1709-1784)
Alfred, Lord Tennyson (1809-1892)
William Makepeace Thackeray (1811-1863)
Thomas Hardy (1840-1928)
Charles Sorley (1895-1915)
Wilfred Owen (1893-1918)
Herbert Read (1893-1968)

[Jwduke · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you like poetry, don't buy this book.

If you are a veteran from war looking for some closure, it might help.

[Shehzor · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sweeping review of humanity's experience with war. Fills you with an understanding of all the various perspectives human beings have looked at war with. From the ideas of glory and vitality found in the ancient anonymous poets, to the powerful anti-war sentiments of Wilfred Owen and WB Yeats. A book like this leaves you with not only an understanding of how humanity has perceived war, but also of the evolution of poetry, which is essentially the "spontaneous overflow of emotions". This idea is discussed in the introduction, and the importance of the genre of war poetry becomes clearer when we consider that no event or situation leads to a more powerful overflow of emotions than war.

[Maryam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great collection; the organization is impressive. Though mostly European poems, there's a good amount of Eastern works in here, too. A must-have in every poetry lover's library.

[John Lane · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed most of these poems especially Wilfred Owen / Siegfried Sasson /

[Dayna Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

An epic collection of war poetry from all eras by a wide range of poets. It is arranged in chronological order and has a selection of footnotes to explain the various battles referred to in the poems. A magnificent collection of poetry, every poetry lover should own this anthology.

[Bernadette · Rating 5 out of 5]

http://rantsravesreviews.homestead.co...

[Trevor Davis · Rating 4 out of 5]

A friend gave me this book and I love it. It's great to pick up and read every once in a while. The poetry is good and challenging.

[Genie McFate]

A horrible and beautiful read all at once. Such as one poem's description about the ghastly, deadly affects of mustard gas.

[Tom Batalias · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great collection which includes one of my all-time favorites; Rudyard Kipling's "Tommy".

[Thomas A Andrew · Rating 2 out of 5]

Influential, famous poems on the subject of the world wars. This collection of poetry made me appreciate poetry more.