'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.
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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"
"From the Trade Paperback edition."
Book Description
Stephen Fry's The Ode Less Travelled provides us with a witty and entertaining guide to the mysteries of writing poetry. (20050217)
--This text refers to the
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First Sentence
YOU HAVE ALREADY achieved the English-language poet's most important goal: you can read, write and speak English well enough to understand this sentence. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Back Cover
YOU HAVE ALREADY achieved the English-language poet's most important goal: you can read, write and speak English well enough to understand this sentence. Read the first page
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Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Back Cover
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
32 of 32 people found the following review helpful
Format: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.
66 of 67 people found the following review helpful
By Katron
Format: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!"
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!"
172 of 176 people found the following review helpful
Format: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.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Wonderful
Funny Stephen Fry got me through my Open University Course with a lot of humour and left me fully understanding cadence, alliteration, and many other phrases which were unbeknown... Read more
Published 17 days ago by nicola power
5.0 out of 5 stars
If Oscar Wilde was your English Teacher...
If Oscar Wilde was your English Teacher...
This is an absolute gem of a book. Get it if you are studying English at any level, get it if you want to appreciate the... Read more
This is an absolute gem of a book. Get it if you are studying English at any level, get it if you want to appreciate the... Read more
Published 18 days ago by FantasyWriter
5.0 out of 5 stars
Simply the best
The only book anyone will need to explore, understand and create the art of poetry.My gratitude to Mr. Stephen Fry.
Published 1 month ago by David K Graham
5.0 out of 5 stars
Unlocking poetry
Fabulous introduction to the art of poetry. I bought this at the same time as I was studying poetry as an undergraduate and this easily outdid any course books we had! Read more
Published 1 month ago by Alex B
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fantastic book
Previously, I had read a lot of poetry and written quite a lot of free verse, but never really plunged into the study of poetic structures and forms. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Jay Fraser
5.0 out of 5 stars
A must for budding poets!
When reading, you can almost hear the voice of Stephen Fry (which is a bonus!). It is written with fun and passion- which is, at the end of the day, what poetry is all about. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Jane B
5.0 out of 5 stars
Poetry
A necessary adjunct to the course books available from the open university Stephen Fry tends to write as the man in the street reads
Published 2 months ago by fogarty
4.0 out of 5 stars
Ode less travelled
Very techinical and insiteful - a great tool for the wannabe poet -helps you understand our great language from a different perspective with commentry that enlightens you and... Read more
Published 3 months ago by Mr A Welsh
5.0 out of 5 stars
Poetry explained - thank you Stephen Fry!
A few of us students of creative writing were struggling a bit until someone suggested reading this book! A book on poetry for real people.
Published 3 months ago by Mrs. L. Mclaren
5.0 out of 5 stars
A readable introduction it poetry for poetry-lovers
Witty, friendly, thorough and helpful- even if you think you already know about rhyme, stress and modernism you will certainly learn more without any trappings of pomposity and... Read more
Published 3 months ago by Senex 72
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