Poetry of the First World War: An Anthology (Oxford World's Classics) - Softcover

[It] will provide the best critical introduction to [the war poets'] body of work as its authority and accuracy supplants previous anthologies. (Agenda)

extraordinary in scope ... an anthology to keep and treasure. Strongly Recommended for any secondary school or college library. (Martin Axford, The School Librarian)

Of all the (many) books I've read over the years about the war poets and the poetry of war, I think this one comes the closest to capturing the breadth and depth of that extraordinary burst of creative engendered by The War to End All Wars. (Moira Briggs, Vulpes Libris)

Kendall's judicious selections, and his concise and useful introductions to each of the chosen poets, suggest that his anthology will become a standard work. (Sean O'Brien, Times Literary Supplement)

Oxford World's Classics' beautifully produced Poetry of the First World War is one of the most important and far-reaching anthologies to have been published in this, World War One's centenary year. (Kirsty Hewitt, Book Hugger)

a thought provoking and moving collection (Sallie Eden, Roseland Online)

'What passing-bells for these who die as cattle?'

The First World War produced an extraordinary flowering of poetic talent, from poets whose words commemorate the conflict as enduringly as monuments in stone. Their poems have come to express the feelings of a nation about the horrors and aftermath of war. This new anthology provides a definitive record of the achievements of the Great War poets. As well as offering generous selections from the celebrated soldier-poets, including Wilfred Owen, Siegfried Sassoon, Rupert Brooke, and Ivor Gurney, it also incorporates less well-known writing by civilian and women poets. Music hall and trench songs provide a further lyrical perspective on the War.

The work of each poet is prefaced with a biographical account that sets the poems in their historical context. In addition, Tim Kendall's introduction charts the history of the war poets' reception and challenges prevailing myths about their progress from idealism to bitterness.

ABOUT THE SERIES: For over 100 years Oxford World's Classics has made available the widest range of literature from around the globe. Each affordable volume reflects Oxford's commitment to scholarship, providing the most accurate text plus a wealth of other valuable features, including expert introductions by leading authorities, helpful notes to clarify the text, up-to-date bibliographies for further study, and much more.