The Ode Less Travelled: Unlocking the Poet Within
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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"
–"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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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
163 of 166 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.
26 of 26 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.
39 of 40 people found the following review helpful
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!"
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
A New Look at Poetry
I never went to school (for reasons of illness and family background)so knew next to nothing about poetical composition. This book has changed all that. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Owen Walter
A Huuuge thankyou to Stephen Fry
I bought this book based on it's glowing reviews and the recommendations of fellow students with
the Open University. Read more
the Open University. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Ms. J. Clarke
Inspirational
From time to time I have read a poem that has absolutely captured me and never understood the elements that make it so appealing. Read more
Published 6 months ago by Calypso
Splendiferous
A truly splendiferous course in writing poetry. Suitable for freshers and refreshers, novices and initiates, laypeople and upstanding people. Read more
Published 7 months ago by Sophie Newton
Do not be afraid.
How I wish this understandable and delightful introduction to writing poetry had come my way years ago. To think I'd been afraid of the structured form for so long... Read more
Published 8 months ago by fred's a granny
Why would you read a book on poetry by someone who has never published...
So why would you?
Because it'll teach you stuff that no other book will teach you as clearly and easily. Read more
Because it'll teach you stuff that no other book will teach you as clearly and easily. Read more
Published 8 months ago by N. Alldridge
Fry's Verse
In the "Ode Less Travelled", Stephen Fry embarks on a poetic journey, a journey not so much about the destination but about the ways to get there, in short, the workings of the... Read more
Published 9 months ago by RR Waller
Stephen Fry, the poetry guy
Is it possible to give less than five stars to this absolutely fabulous book? I guess so since somebody did, but I don't understand how. Read more
Published 9 months ago by Lewis Prime Ronda
Everything I hoped for
This book does exactly what Stephen Fry set out to do - to write the poetry text book he wishes he had when he was in school. Read more
Published 10 months ago by Al
Brilliant book
This is a brilliant book for anyone who wants to understand poetry. It is good if you want to write poetry or read it. Read more
Published 12 months ago by writer christopher
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