Join Amazon Prime and get unlimited Free One-Day Delivery. Already a member? Sign in.

 

or
Sign in to turn on 1-Click ordering.
 
   
More Buying Choices
35 used & new from £3.33
Have one to sell? Sell yours here
 
   
The Ode Less Travelled: Unlocking the Poet Within
 
See larger image 
Share your own customer images
Publisher: learn how customers can search inside this book.

The Ode Less Travelled: Unlocking the Poet Within (Hardcover)

by Stephen Fry (Author)
4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (35 customer reviews)
RRP: £10.99
Price: £7.69 & this item Delivered FREE in the UK with Super Saver Delivery. See details and conditions
You Save: £3.30 (30%)
o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o
In stock.
Dispatched from and sold by Amazon.co.uk. Gift-wrap available.

Want guaranteed delivery by Saturday, July 11? Choose Express delivery at checkout. See Details
23 new from £4.00 10 used from £3.33 2 collectible from £10.00
Other Editions: RRP: Our Price: Other Offers:
Hardcover 2 used & new from £14.31
Paperback (New edition) £7.99 £5.99 38 used & new from £3.14

Frequently Bought Together

The Ode Less Travelled: Unlocking the Poet Within + The Nation's Favourite Poems + Penguin's Poems for Life (Penguin Hardback Classics)
Price For All Three: £26.47

Show availability and shipping details

Customers Who Bought This Item Also Bought

Moab is My Washpot

Moab is My Washpot

by Stephen Fry
4.6 out of 5 stars (38)  £5.99
The Hippopotamus

The Hippopotamus

by Stephen Fry
4.7 out of 5 stars (20)  £5.99
Making History

Making History

by Stephen Fry
4.5 out of 5 stars (42)  £5.99
Paperweight

Paperweight

by Stephen Fry
4.2 out of 5 stars (6)  £5.99
Stephen Fry's Incomplete and Utter History of Classical Music

Stephen Fry's Incomplete and Utter History of Classical Music

by Stephen Fry
2.9 out of 5 stars (15)  £5.99
› Explore similar items

Product details

  • Hardcover: 220 pages
  • Publisher: Hutchinson (20 Oct 2005)
  • Language English
  • ISBN-10: 009179661X
  • ISBN-13: 978-0091796617
  • Product Dimensions: 20 x 13.6 x 3.6 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (35 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 67,734 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

    Popular in this category:

    #42 in  Books > Fiction > Authors, A-Z > F > Fry, Stephen

    •  Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?

Product Description

Review
"Fry's extraordinary book is an idiot's guide to the writing of poetry, a primer, a tutorial with funny turns, an earnest textbook..."
-"Independent on Sunday"
"A smart, sane and entertaining return to basics."
-"Daily Telegraph"

"From the Trade Paperback edition."

Product Description
'One of the many joys of being Stephen Fry's editor is his ability to surprise me,' says Sue Freestone. She knew he'd really done it this time when he revealed to her that he'd always had a secret passion for poetry and that his next project was a book about how to write poetry. His book will give everybody the tools to write poetry; covering the full spectrum of the different poetic forms, structures and techniques. According to Stephen, it will make writing poetry fun, easy, satisfying, fulfilling and delightful. Here is a taste of Stephen's own efforts: Lesbian Sappho made this form. With two beats to the final line, her sex life wasn't quite the norm, and nor is mine. This title comes in a gift format perfectly formed hardback for closet poetry writers everywhere.

See all Product Description

Suggested Tags from Similar Products

 (What's this?)
Be the first one to add a relevant tag (keyword that's strongly related to this product)
Check a corresponding box or enter your own tags in the field below
stephen fry
poetry how-to

Your tags: Add your first tag
 
See most popular tags

What Do Customers Ultimately Buy After Viewing This Item?

The Ode Less Travelled: Unlocking the Poet Within
87% buy the item featured on this page:
The Ode Less Travelled: Unlocking the Poet Within 4.6 out of 5 stars (35)
£7.69
Moab is My Washpot
5% buy
Moab is My Washpot 4.6 out of 5 stars (38)
£5.99
Making History
4% buy
Making History 4.5 out of 5 stars (42)
£5.99
The Hippopotamus
2% buy
The Hippopotamus 4.7 out of 5 stars (20)
£5.99
Explore similar items
 

Customer Reviews

35 Reviews
5 star:
 (28)
4 star:
 (4)
3 star:    (0)
2 star:
 (2)
1 star:
 (1)
 
 
 
 
 
Average Customer Review
4.6 out of 5 stars (35 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
Share your thoughts with other customers:
Most Helpful Customer Reviews

 
94 of 96 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars The book I have wanted since I was 14, 2 Nov 2005
No-one teaches metre. Absolutely no-one. I had some excellent English teachers, but they all seemed to be bound by some Masonic vow not to disclose its secrets. I know a published poet, naturally gifted, a mobile library of learning, and utterly unable to communicate enjoyably even the basics of the lost rules of verse.

Stephen Fry steps in like a concerned uncle and jovially dismisses the nonsense preventing us from growing up and writing proper poetry, better, he accompanies us beyond the foreword so that this, if you ever had any doubt, is never a dry book. He imparts something at least as valuable as laughter (also included), a sense of achievement gained through real knowledge that you can apply, not mere trivia.

Even if you already write free verse and won’t give it up by the end, even if you never really intend to write poetry at all, this is an invaluable aid to understanding the great poets; your hat size will increase, other British people will be grudgingly impressed and grateful sons, daughters, and cute English students will want to spend more time with you, doing their homework for them.

Encouraging the population to write poetry could be a toxically dangerous thing to do, but not, I think, if they read this book.

Comment Comment (1) | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)



 
49 of 52 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Buy it!, 26 Aug 2007
By decomplexity (Rutland, UK) - See all my reviews
I have been searching for ages for a something - anything - which clearly explained metre and feet, and all the different verse forms: the sonnets, ballads, odes et alia, things which seem to have vanished from English courses (to be superseded by `creativity' and incomprehensible blank verse).
Having read and tried and failed to understand Edgar Allan Poe's account of metre, the fog suddenly lifted after reading Fry's really excellent book. I can now recite Poe's The Raven and understand the underlying metrical scheme; for me an achievement!

This book covers a lot of ground, is surprisingly comprehensive and - as a testament to Fry's brilliance - is easy to read but not patronising. He will probably upset academics by writing clearly and without unnecessary jargon.
Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)



 
48 of 51 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars This book is worth ten stars., 28 April 2007
By J. D. Aspinall (South West England) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
Stephen fry is one of the rarest of fellows; fiercely intelligent without a trace of intellectual snobbery. I could listen to him all day.

I bought this for my interest in writing discipline. The constraints of form that poets and theatrical lyricists (the decent ones, anyway) work within fascinates me, and has done for years.

Sir Tim Rice has said that his best work always comes when the melody is written first. Having to write within melodic constraints tends to focus the mind much more than a blank page ever will. A blank page allows thoughts to drift and wander; working within certain rules of form ensures that the mind remains sharpened to the task.

Poets are drowning in rules. I was thrilled to learn that there are so many to consider. I have some interest in what Poets have to say, but a huge interest in how they choose to say it.

Stephen Fry has presented this subject in a style that is accessible and amusing and that is a sign of his, perhaps, limitless talent.

The word "genius" is used far too often nowadays. In Stephen Fry's case I think it is wholly appropriate.

I hope you buy this book. It is certainly worth your money.
Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)


Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review
 
 
 
Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Does what it says...
The work of a poetry lover,
Which does what it says on the cover.
And does it with an intelligently succinct quality. Read more
Published 4 days ago by Philoctetes

5.0 out of 5 stars The Classical How to Write Poetry Book
Stephen Fry has writen a comprehensive book on the classical forms of poetry,which is informative and amusing. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Michael Russell

5.0 out of 5 stars A Homeric Ode to "The Ode Less Travelled"
How can I extoll this book?
I'm struggling to find a hook.
No words in me I have to serve,
To fete this book as it deserves. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Ms. Kate Mchale

5.0 out of 5 stars unlocking the poet in oneself
The best book I have ever read about making poetry. Fry is a master of encouragement for hesitant would-be poets. The information is clear and most helpful. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Mrs. I. J. Smith

5.0 out of 5 stars I won't go on...
.... because alot of people have already reviewed this book. But I just wanted to say how useful it's been to me, to help me with a university course I've been studying. Read more
Published 5 months ago by J. C. Chamberlain

5.0 out of 5 stars Stephen Fry, The Ode Less Travelled
'The Ode Less Travelled' by St. Fry has already had an 'unleashing effect'.
Fry's lighthearted style, the way he actively tries to involve his readers, is stimulating. Read more
Published 5 months ago by Mrs. Erika A. Bulow-osborne

5.0 out of 5 stars Just Add Curiosity
Poetry is an oft-overlooked art, and due to its lack of popularity, there is a resultant lack of materials to help any prospective poets get started. Read more
Published 5 months ago by Kieran J. Corcoran

2.0 out of 5 stars Disappointing
It starts well. The first section (on metre) is easy to read and understand, with plenty of examples. Read more
Published 6 months ago by David Kelly

5.0 out of 5 stars Utterly brilliant - the perfect gift. Anyone who is studying English at any stage will thank you for it
I've seen it written here already but I learnt more about metre, rhyme and verse form(so poetry basically)from Stephen Fry than i did throughout my entire English Literature... Read more
Published 6 months ago by Howard Green

4.0 out of 5 stars Illuminating to a poetry philistine. Fry's slightly twee schoolmasterly style might irritate.
This book did make me me appreciate poetry a bit more, at least the technicalities of it. But while I am a fan of his, I found the sheer Stephen Fry-ness of it hard to stomach at... Read more
Published 7 months ago by P. Hammond

Only search this product's reviews


Customer Discussions

 Beta (What's this?)
This product's forum (0 discussions)
  Discussion Replies Latest Post
  No discussions yet

Ask questions, Share opinions, Gain insight
Start a new discussion
Topic:
First post:
Prompts for sign-in
  [Cancel]


Active discussions in related forums
   
Related forums

Listmania!

Create a Listmania! list

Look for similar items by category

Feedback

A Poetry Handbook

A Poetry Handbook

Offers advice on reading and writing poetry, and discusses imitation... Read more
£7.00

›Find similar items

 

More From Stephen Fry

Moab is My...

Moab is My Washpot by Stephen Fry

"'Stephen Fry is one of the great originals... This autobiography of... Read more
£8.99 £5.99

 

Train Hard...Play Hard

Nike, Gola, Converse, and more
Gear up with up to 60% off athletic and outdoor shoes.

›Shop now

  

Treat Someone

Amazon.co.uk Gift Certificates--available in any amount from £5 to £500 With an Amazon.co.uk Gift Certificate, you can get them what they want (even if you don't know what that is).

›Learn more about Gift Certificates

  
Ad

Where's My Stuff?

Delivery and Returns

Need Help?

Your Recent History

  (What's this?)
You have no recently viewed items or searches.

After viewing product detail pages or search results, look here to find an easy way to navigate back to pages you are interested in.

Look to the right column to find helpful suggestions for your shopping session.
Continue Shopping: Top Sellers
The Girl Who Played with Fire
The Girl Who Played with Fire by Stieg Larsson
4.5 out of 5 stars (72)£3.86
 Breaking Dawn (Twilight Saga)
Breaking Dawn (Twilight Saga) by Stephenie Meyer
4.1 out of 5 stars (457)£6.49
 The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson
4.1 out of 5 stars (161)£3.99
 The Host
The Host by Stephenie Meyer
4.2 out of 5 stars (80)£3.86

amazon.co.uk Amazon Home
International Sites:  United States  |  Germany  |  France  |  Japan  |  Canada  |  China
Business Programs: Sell on Amazon  |  Fulfilment by Amazon  |  Join Associates  |  Join Advantage
Customer Service  |  Help  |  View Basket  |  Your Account
About Amazon.co.uk  |  Careers at Amazon
Conditions of Use & Sale |  Privacy Notice  © 1996-2009, Amazon.com, Inc. and its affiliates