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51 of 51 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Demystifying Poetry, 22 Sep 2001
By A Customer
I would unhesitatingly recommend this book to anyone who writes poetry -- or wants too -- and who has felt at sea at the idea of getting published. Or to someone who would like to read postwar poetry in English but who hasn't heard of any names, and would like suggestions on who to read.Hyland describes the book in the introduction as "for readers and writers of poetry who don't necessarily have English Literature degrees ... It makes two rash assumptions about you: one, that you are arrogant or at least ambitious enough to be determined to find your way, to read and write well; two, that you are willing to look at yourself, the world of books, and the world which is your subject-matter and your audience with all the humility it takes." The book contains a chapter describing the poetic movements of the twentieth century, and the poets connected with them; a chapter on "waterholes"; on reading; riches; poetry competitions; publishing; feeling isolated; sources of criticism on your poems; "allies"; and "toolkits". The book end with an inclusive year-by-year suggestion of books of poetry since 1939, with a two page suggestion of what are the "poems of our time"; and a list of names and addresses of organisations, bookshops, courses, publishers and magazines. As well as being full of information, 'Getting into Poetry' is accessibly, often funnily, written. The message behind the book is perhaps Whitman's, quoted at the beginning of the last chapter, that great poems say to each man and woman "Come to us on equal terms, only then can you understand us."
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