The Cambridge Introduction to Victorian Poetry

An overview of British poetry from 1830 to 1901, with a glossary of literary terms and guide to further reading.

Linda K. Hughes (Author)

9780521856249, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 20 May 2010

344 pages, 6 b/w illus.
23.5 x 15.8 x 2 cm, 0.67 kg

'The Cambridge Introduction to Victorian Poetry is comprehensive without sacrificing clarity, depth or readability. Hughes invaluably helps her readers face the new challenges of teaching and studying Victorian poetry in the twenty-first century.' Victorian Review

Victorian poetry was read and enjoyed by a much larger audience than is sometimes thought. Publication in widely-circulating periodicals, reprinting in book reviews, and excerpting in novels and essays ensured that major poets such as Tennyson, Browning, Hardy and Rossetti were household names, and they remain popular today. The Cambridge Introduction to Victorian Poetry provides an accessible overview of British poetry from 1830 to 1901, paying particular attention to its role in mass media print culture. Designed to interest both students and scholars, the book traces lively dialogues between poets and explains poets' choices of form, style and language. It also demonstrates poetry's relevance to Victorian debates on science, social justice, religion, imperialism, and art. Featuring a glossary of literary terms, a guide to further reading, and two examples of close readings of Victorian poems, this introduction is the ideal starting-point for the study of verse in the nineteenth century.

Preface
Acknowledgments
Introducing Victorian poetry
Part I. The Forms of Victorian Poetry: 1. Victorian experimentalism
2. Victorian dialogues with tradition
3. The impress of print
Part II. The Rhetoric of Victorian Poetry: 4. Poetry, technology, science
5. Poetry and religion
6. Poetry and the heart's affections
7. Poetry and empire
8. Poetic liberties
9. Art for art's sake
Coda: close readings: Aurora Leigh, 'Vitae summa brevis spem nos vetat incohare longam' and 'Friends Beyond'
Glossary
Guide to further reading
Index.

Subject Areas: Literary studies: poetry & poets [DSC], Literary studies: general [DSB], Literature: history & criticism [DS], Poetry by individual poets [DCF], Poetry [DC], Literature & literary studies [D]