The Best Poems of the English Language: From Chaucer Through Robert Frost Paperback – 30 Aug. 2007

Where this anthology scores over all others is in Harold Bloom’s brilliant mini essays on each of the poets he has chosen, which immeasurably enhance the enjoyment and understanding of the poems themselves. To cite one example, he analyses the ways which Whitman employs his different poetic identities (the Self, the Soul, the Real Me or Me Myself) in “Song of Myself” and how his Soul is revealed variously as Night, Death, the Mother and the Sea in a way that so illuminates our reading of the poems.There are countless anthologies of poems that possibly include even more of everyone’s school favourites but none with this easily digested wealth of wisdom and instruction attached. For that reason I would recommend any lover of poetry to add this wonderful volume to their collection. And at 900+ pages it is a steal at the price.

It is always a pleasure to be infused by Bloom's passion of reading. In this case he masters his enciclopedism on English Poetry with close reading insight and a very refined and complete selection of works. They go along time tracing the evolution of the language as well as the particular influence and importance of every author on his own time.There is something remarcable about Bloom -from whom I've read at least five books- and it is that he manages not to repeat himself and takes the readers to different optics and perspectives.In the caso of this anthology he develops an unique picture that functions as a panoptic of English Poetry. Any one can stand there as a basis for more and then feel sure to follow some other line of achievement and discovery.I have this book on my bed table.

This is a beautiful book, way above any other anthology. What makes it so special? It is Harold Bloom's passion for poetry. He presents in a very personal, subjective fashion his choices. Instead of the custom introduction, dictionary-like, the reader has an enthusiast's account of each poet. No doubt Harold Bloom is a terrific mentor to any reader of poetry. I am buying more... Harold Bloom's books!

This is a very good collection of poetry. It is not the collection I would choose were I to compile such a tome, but this is no surprise. The sense of poetry, what makes a good poem technically, emotionally, artistically is a very personal matter. What is presented here is a particular collection from one of the 'experts' of the day in the field of poetry, and an interesting survey it is.Bloom freely admits to not being 'equal' with all the poets here in terms of their introductory material -- sometimes this is because of the breadth or unique character of their poetry, or sometimes (as in the case of Shakespeare, which is rather short given his overall relationship to the English language) because there is more general accessibility, either of the texts or of outside information readily available. Bloom has used modernised texts for the poetry for the most part, save where the original text is crucial for understanding and appreciating the poetry (as is the case with Chaucer) -- in which case there are helpful notes to aid in 'translation'.Despite the title's proclamation of the poetry cycle being from Chaucer to Frost, in fact there are more than a dozen poets after Robert Frost included in the text --the poets are arranged chronologically, beginning with Chaucer and leading up to Hart Crane, who was born in 1899. Bloom did not include 'twentieth-century' poets -- in other words, any poet born in 1900 or later. Thus there are some notable figures missing at the end of the volume; there are no selections from Odgen Nash, W.H. Auden, Elizabeth Bishop, Sylvia Plath, Dylan Thomas, or other notable contemporaries. There are also a few omissions from earlier times -- e.e. cummings, born in 1894, is not represented here (and yet John Brooks Wheelwright (who? you might ask) is), nor is Robert Graves. One might quibble here, and say that this book is a collection of 'some' of the Best Poems of the English Language, but hardly all. However, that criticism could likely be levelled against any volume daring the title 'Best Poems'.Bloom has decided tastes, developed over a decades-long career in literary pursuits that have included poetry, prose, sacred literature, modern culture and more. His introductory essay (about 30 pages of the text) gives the reader little doubt where Bloom's tastes lie, and that is ultimately the reason for the selections in the remaining 950-odd pages. Bloom also pulls no punches in the commentary-biographies introducing the poets -- for example he states 'I confess a lifelong hostility to T.S. Eliot,' as the first sentence (in capital letters, no less) to the biographical introduction to Eliot; one wonders if the inclusion of the relatively unknown Wheelwright mentioned above has as much to do with his political affinities as to do with his literary merit.Ultimately there are three strengths to this text -- first, it is a selection of some of the greatest poems in English, despite the absence of a few notables, including the absence of anything Old English or Anonymously written; second, Bloom's commentaries from lifelong experience and study make worthwhile reading whether or not one agrees with his tastes and interpretations; finally, it does trace in chronological order an interesting glimpse through well-known and sometimes overlooked poets and poems the overall development of English as a language of art, lyric expression and passion.

Best collection ever.

At age 65 I have discovered poetry and I have been blown away by the experience.This book sits at the heart of my new found love of poetry

Not light bed-side reading. Harold Bloom is a bit dry, but the poetry he has picked out is beautifull from start to finish.Long comments on every poet.

my daughter doing an English degree and had searched for the best books that she needed and these came up