The Ode Less Travelled: Unlocking the Poet Within
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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"
–"Independent on Sunday"
“A smart, sane and entertaining return to basics.”
–"Daily Telegraph"
Book Description
Stephen Fry's The Ode Less Travelled provides us with a witty and entertaining guide to the mysteries of writing poetry.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
157 of 160 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The book I have wanted since I was 14,
By
This review is from: The Ode Less Travelled: Unlocking the Poet Within (Hardcover)
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.
24 of 24 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Homeric Ode to "The Ode Less Travelled",
By Katron (London, UK) - See all my reviews
This review is from: The Ode Less Travelled: Unlocking the Poet Within (Paperback)
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. Suffice for now for me to say With practice, I will find a way. And on that day the bells on high, Will ring "God bless you, Stephen Fry!"
23 of 23 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Well Written and Extraordinarily Useful,
By Mrs. K. A. Wheatley "katywheatley" (Leicester, UK) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER) (VINE VOICE) (REAL NAME)
This review is from: The Ode Less Travelled: Unlocking the Poet Within (Paperback)
I did a degree in Literature, specialising in poetry, and never did really understand how metre works. This book is the first explanation of poetic terminology and the technical aspects of metre, rhyme etc where I have both read and understood fully what I have been reading. Not only that, Fry writes in a way that makes it enjoyable to read his work rather than the usual dusty tomes one gets on the subject. It is wide ranging in subject matter, talking not only about English poetry but also with a great section on genres such as Japanese poetry, particularly Haiku and Tanka, and other forms from round the world. Each chapter comes with exercises to do for the aspiring poet, with examples written by Fry himself. The informality of his approach, i.e. poetry is easy and you can do it too, is a breath of fresh air and I would heartily recommend this book to anyone who wants to know anything about poetry.
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