Essential Pleasures: A New Anthology of Poems to Read Aloud by Robert Pinsky (Editor)

From Barnes & Noble

In the past 20 years or so, poetry has grown from a purely academic or avant-garde domain into a popular, accessible activity. Much of the credit for this progression can be attributed to the work done by Robert Pinsky, Billy Collins, Mary Oliver, and a few others. In this 528-page anthology, Pinsky collects verse, both contemporary and classic, that best reflects poetry as a spoken art. The accompanying audio CD showcases these poems, which range from brief rhymed lyrics to extended sonorous odes.

From the Publisher

This lively, abundant book is distinguished by its focus on hearing poetry read aloud. Robert Pinsky, beloved for his ability to bring poetry to life as spoken language, has collected poems that sound marvelous in a reader's actual or imagined voice. Pinsky has organized the book into sections with brief introductions that emphasize the attentive, intuitive, and reflective process of listening to poetry. This structure provides an implicit, generous definition-by-example of poetry itself: beginning with "Short Lines, Frequent Rhymes" and "Long Lines" and proceeding through fundamental themes such as "Love Poems," "Odes, Complaints, and Celebrations," and "Jokes, Ripostes, Parodies, and Insults."

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