Poetry

A Very Short Introduction

By: Bernard O'Donoghue

Narrated by: Roger Clark

Length: 5 hrs and 3 mins

Publisher's Summary

Poetry, arguably, has a greater range of conceptual meaning than perhaps any other term in English. At the most basic level everyone can recognize it - it is a kind of literature that uses special linguistic devices of organization and expression for aesthetic effect. 

However, far grander claims have been made for poetry than this - such as Shelley's that the poets "are the unacknowledged legislators of the world," and that poetry is "a higher truth."

In this Very Short Introduction, Bernard O'Donoghue provides a fascinating look at the many different forms of writing which have been called "poetry" - from the Greeks to the present day. As well as questioning what poetry is, he asks what poetry is for, and considers contemporary debates on its value. Is there a universality to poetry? And does it have a duty of public utility and responsibility?

©2019 Bernard O'Donoghue (P)2020 Tantor

Great Primer for Poetry Students

Bernard O'Donoghue's "Introduction to Poetry" is currently the best short introduction to how to think about and why we should read poetry on audible. Rather than being a history of poetry like John Carey's "A Little History of Poetry" and Peter Whitfield's "A History of English Poetry," which focus on the who,what,when, and where of poetry, this book is a thematic introduction into the why and how of poetry. It is not a formal overview, so do not expect to learn what a villanelle is from this book. But do expect to get a good understanding of how poetry has been thought about, particularly over the course the the 20th century, from this book. The discourse is oriented around questions like what is poetry's social value, should it have one, are poets born or made, how poetry can or cannot be defined, and why does nobody read poetry anymore?

The author is authoritative, admittedly androcentric, and openly snobby (he often stops mid-sentence to ponder if the audience will be able to understand his high-powered intellect), and Roger Clark does a good job in capturing the disinterested elitist tone of the Oxford drone. The length makes the book digestible in one sitting, while doing your hobby, or out on an long walk. A great primer for students about to study poetry.

Not an intro to poetry, perhaps a history?

Snooty nonsensical ramblings hour after hour, not an introduction to poetry but rather a brief history of a series of quotes about poetey. Waste of time and money.

Excellent Reflections on Poetry

This book could be much longer. But then it wouldn't be "very short." In any case, it's very engaging and thought-provoking.

This is not a history of poetry, and contains few extended samples, It focuses on lit-crit topics such as:

- What is Poetry - what makes something a poem?
- How does it function? What is it "good for"?
- Are there rules? Are they only made to be broken? Are there special "poetic" uses of language?
- What does it mean to be "true to nature"?

I will return to this book for the questions and thoughts it provokes.