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Poetry for Young People
Alfred, Lord Tennyson
In this series, a contemporary poet selects and introduces a poet of the past. The editors explain in their prefaces their choice of poems and their personal/critical reactions to them.
Alfred, Lord Tennyson (1809-92) was born in Somersby, Lincolnshire, the sixth of eleven children of a clergyman. After a childhood marked by trauma, he went up to Cambridge in 1828, where he met Arthur Hallam, whose premature death had a lasting influence on Tennyson's life and writing. His two volumes of Poems (1842) established him as the leading poet of his generation, and of the Victorian period. He was created Poet Laureate in 1850 and in 1883 accepted a peerage.
Alfred, Lord Tennyson (1809-92) was born in Somersby, Lincolnshire, the sixth of eleven children of a clergyman. After a childhood marked by trauma, he went up to Cambridge in 1828, where he met Arthur Hallam, whose premature death had a lasting influence on Tennyson's life and writing. His two volumes of Poems (1842) established him as the leading poet of his generation, and of the Victorian period. He was created Poet Laureate in 1850 and in 1883 accepted a peerage.
96 pages, Paperback
First published September 28, 2003
About the author
Alfred Tennyson
2,259 books1,465 followersWorks, including
In Memoriam
in 1850 and "The Charge of the Light Brigade" in 1854, of Alfred Tennyson, first baron, known as lord, appointed British poet laureate in 1850, reflect Victorian sentiments and aesthetics.
Elizabeth Tennyson, wife, bore Alfred Tennyson, the fourth of twelve children, to George Tennyson, clergyman; he inevitably wrote his books. In 1816, parents sent Tennyson was sent to grammar school of Louth.
Alfred Tennyson disliked school so intensely that from 1820, home educated him. At the age of 18 years in 1827, Alfred joined his two brothers at Trinity College, Cambridge and with Charles Tennyson, his brother, published Poems by Two Brothers , his book, in the same year.
Alfred Tennyson published Poems Chiefly Lyrical , his second book, in 1830. In 1833, Arthur Henry Hallam, best friend of Tennyson, engaged to wed his sister, died, and thus inspired some best Ulysses and the Passing of Arthur .
Following William Wordsworth, Alfred Tennyson in 1850 married Emily Sellwood Tenyson, his childhood friend. She bore Hallam Tennyson in 1852 and Lionel Tennyson in 1854, two years later.
Alfred Tennyson continued throughout his life and in the 1870s also to write a number of plays.
In 1884, the queen raised Alfred Tennyson, a great favorite of Albert, prince, thereafter to the peerage of Aldworth. She granted such a high rank for solely literary distinction to this only Englishman.
Alfred Tennyson died at the age of 83 years, and people buried his body in abbey of Westminster.
Elizabeth Tennyson, wife, bore Alfred Tennyson, the fourth of twelve children, to George Tennyson, clergyman; he inevitably wrote his books. In 1816, parents sent Tennyson was sent to grammar school of Louth.
Alfred Tennyson disliked school so intensely that from 1820, home educated him. At the age of 18 years in 1827, Alfred joined his two brothers at Trinity College, Cambridge and with Charles Tennyson, his brother, published Poems by Two Brothers , his book, in the same year.
Alfred Tennyson published Poems Chiefly Lyrical , his second book, in 1830. In 1833, Arthur Henry Hallam, best friend of Tennyson, engaged to wed his sister, died, and thus inspired some best Ulysses and the Passing of Arthur .
Following William Wordsworth, Alfred Tennyson in 1850 married Emily Sellwood Tenyson, his childhood friend. She bore Hallam Tennyson in 1852 and Lionel Tennyson in 1854, two years later.
Alfred Tennyson continued throughout his life and in the 1870s also to write a number of plays.
In 1884, the queen raised Alfred Tennyson, a great favorite of Albert, prince, thereafter to the peerage of Aldworth. She granted such a high rank for solely literary distinction to this only Englishman.
Alfred Tennyson died at the age of 83 years, and people buried his body in abbey of Westminster.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
August 30, 2024
part of a Great Poets series, the collection/release celebrating the 200th anniversary of Alfred Tennyson's birthday.
the poems were very rhyming! I'm not sure why I was surprised 😉 I think while familiar with the poet by name, and some of his poems in passing, from anthologies, etc, it was the first time I'd read/listened to a collection of his work.
'In the Garden at Swainston', was the poem I liked best in this collection 🙂
🌟 🌟 🌟
accessed as a library audiobook, read by Micheal Pennington.
the poems were very rhyming! I'm not sure why I was surprised 😉 I think while familiar with the poet by name, and some of his poems in passing, from anthologies, etc, it was the first time I'd read/listened to a collection of his work.
'In the Garden at Swainston', was the poem I liked best in this collection 🙂
🌟 🌟 🌟
accessed as a library audiobook, read by Micheal Pennington.
October 17, 2009
This reading of some of Tennyson's most well known poems makes me think I'm listening to music.
January 29, 2026
“More things are wrought by prayer than this world dreams of” - from the Passing of Arthur.
Y’all, I loved Tennyson! Loved the King Arthur poems. Finally heard “The Lady of Shalott” which Anne quotes in Anne of Green Gables.
Y’all, I loved Tennyson! Loved the King Arthur poems. Finally heard “The Lady of Shalott” which Anne quotes in Anne of Green Gables.
May 31, 2022
Solid reading of one of the greats (including a centrifugal poem for the Vale megacosm). Beats nursery rhymes and definitely captures his cadence.
It’s really something those rare moments when poetry does what only poetry can do and gives you new language or a new experience or new language for a new experience.
It’s really something those rare moments when poetry does what only poetry can do and gives you new language or a new experience or new language for a new experience.
August 20, 2024
Beautiful edition edited by John Maynard. Selections of Tennyson's best with perfectly wonderful illustrations by Allen Garns. Biographical introduction and an on-the page glossary for each poem. Begins with "The Mermaid" and goes on to introduce excerpts of the more famous poems : Ulysses, Idylls of the King, and In Memoriam.
Note: The Amazon link is not for this book, but another generic edition of Tennyson. This is part of POETRY FOR YOUNG PEOPLE series from Sterling Publishing.
Note: The Amazon link is not for this book, but another generic edition of Tennyson. This is part of POETRY FOR YOUNG PEOPLE series from Sterling Publishing.
December 26, 2018
The Stoics were happy to be proven wrong so that they might root out their own ignorance. Only recently have I begun to really enjoy poetry, and a visit to the bookstore at a time my mind was open brought me to this selection of poetry by Alfred, Lord Tennyson.
Tennyson became Poet Laureate of Britain in 1850 following William Wordworth's death. He wasn't the first choice. Not knowing what the position of poet laureate even meant, my class self-consciousness went off on its usual tangent. Typical, an "appointed" artist. State-contrived creativity. What nonsense.
I once felt the same about Hemingway. Americans uber-promoting their own as the best in the world, without considering anyone else, anywhere else. And then I read Islands in the Stream. Wow. And I have since devoured all the works I could find written by Hemingway. He is my favourite author.
So when I purchased this book, I thought I'd give it a go. And then my class-self-consciousness kicked in. Until page 4:
Before reading the book, I had been out preparing the garden for the ensuing heatwave. An enormous sunflower had opened up, the biggest I have ever seen. Then it began to droop.
I added a longer stake to keep the flower upright. But after I put the stake in, I realised that the flower was not drooping for lack of water or support. It was solid, bent over in the position shown in the photograph above.
A few hours later I read page 4 of Tennyson's Song. And in it was all the beauty and reason of my broad sunflower in its present condition. A work of God.
My Damascene moment instantly converted me to Tennyson. Once again, my own bullshit had been called and I was wrong.
The rest of the works are an absolute delight, and I made an interesting discovery. Tennyson used the phrase "a handful of dust" (p. 48). Evelyn Waugh had borrowed the phrase as the title for his novel, from T.S. Eliot's The Waste Land.
The Waste Land is what got me into poetry in the first place, so the miracle of life continues, the circle of literary learning turns, and I live and learn.
Tennyson became Poet Laureate of Britain in 1850 following William Wordworth's death. He wasn't the first choice. Not knowing what the position of poet laureate even meant, my class self-consciousness went off on its usual tangent. Typical, an "appointed" artist. State-contrived creativity. What nonsense.
I once felt the same about Hemingway. Americans uber-promoting their own as the best in the world, without considering anyone else, anywhere else. And then I read Islands in the Stream. Wow. And I have since devoured all the works I could find written by Hemingway. He is my favourite author.
So when I purchased this book, I thought I'd give it a go. And then my class-self-consciousness kicked in. Until page 4:
Earthward he boweth the heavy stalks
of the mouldering flowers:
Heavily hangs the broad sunflower
Over its grave i' the earth so chilly;
Before reading the book, I had been out preparing the garden for the ensuing heatwave. An enormous sunflower had opened up, the biggest I have ever seen. Then it began to droop.
I added a longer stake to keep the flower upright. But after I put the stake in, I realised that the flower was not drooping for lack of water or support. It was solid, bent over in the position shown in the photograph above.
A few hours later I read page 4 of Tennyson's Song. And in it was all the beauty and reason of my broad sunflower in its present condition. A work of God.
My Damascene moment instantly converted me to Tennyson. Once again, my own bullshit had been called and I was wrong.
The rest of the works are an absolute delight, and I made an interesting discovery. Tennyson used the phrase "a handful of dust" (p. 48). Evelyn Waugh had borrowed the phrase as the title for his novel, from T.S. Eliot's The Waste Land.
The Waste Land is what got me into poetry in the first place, so the miracle of life continues, the circle of literary learning turns, and I live and learn.
April 30, 2022
Can’t go far wrong with this Tennyson redux as the poetic genius from Lincolnshire is reduced to an hour or so of audio. My favourites include The Charge of The Light Brigade and The Lotos Eaters. An emphasis is placed in mythical figures such as Ulysses and the Knights of Camelot. The narrator does an excellent job as you’d expect and I’m onky docking one star for the chopped up and often incomplete content. Still makes for a great primer.
January 16, 2016
Poor old Tennyson gets a bad rap these days for being too sentimental and sing-songy. Yet the Victorians loved him; Queen Victoria valued "In Memoriam," Tennyson's mammoth elegy on the loss of his beloved friend Arthur Henry Hallam, next to the bible. You may be surprised to see what a master Tennyson really was -- a poet who showed amazing skill at almost every poetic form. Worth rediscovering.
January 18, 2016
I like poetry, but I often wrestle with it. Perhaps that’s why like it. A lot of modern poetry is terse, sparse, pared down to the bare-bones-basic like a jigsaw puzzle with too many pieces missing. It’s often difficult for me to see the whole picture. On the other hand, much classical formal poetry is like a cascade of words, rushing and tumbling, too much, too fast. I feel swept away. Alfred, Lord Tennyson: Poems selected by Mick Imlah is a volume from a series of books from Faber and Faber featuring poems of notable poets selected by contemporary poets.
Tennyson is a master. His poems are immaculately constructed, each word carefully chosen. But I find the diction from a by-gone time a bit too ornate, overblown, with a loftiness that seems intended to impress rather to inspire. The syntax is a bit too convoluted and torturous, creating a challenge to clarity. Give me poetry that is sharp and clear. Give me poems that in the fewest words possible can catch my breath, stir my soul, kick my ass and make me say, “Wow!” Tennyson deserves the appellation of greatness, but his poetry is a bit too baroque for my taste
Tennyson is a master. His poems are immaculately constructed, each word carefully chosen. But I find the diction from a by-gone time a bit too ornate, overblown, with a loftiness that seems intended to impress rather to inspire. The syntax is a bit too convoluted and torturous, creating a challenge to clarity. Give me poetry that is sharp and clear. Give me poems that in the fewest words possible can catch my breath, stir my soul, kick my ass and make me say, “Wow!” Tennyson deserves the appellation of greatness, but his poetry is a bit too baroque for my taste
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May 24, 2024Should poetry collections be rated? Dawg idk…
Standouts are below:
• The Kraken
• The Lotos-Eaters
• Ulysses
• Tithonus
• St Simeon Stylites
• Godiva
• Rizpah
• Crossing the Bar
Standouts are below:
• The Kraken
• The Lotos-Eaters
• Ulysses
• Tithonus
• St Simeon Stylites
• Godiva
• Rizpah
• Crossing the Bar
December 30, 2017
I went back to the library and got a bunch more of this series after reading the Wallace Stevens volume yesterday. This one I didn't care for so much. Many of the poems are fairly mournful ones from In Memoriam, which seems like an odd choice for a kids' book. And some are excerpted, some better than others (why only give the first few verses of Lady of Shallott, before any of the actual story even happens?). The illustrations are okay, but I didn't care of them, and didn't feel a particular affinity between them and the poetry.
August 19, 2025
Tennyson was a master craftsman of rhythm and rhyme, which is so eloquently demonstrated by this collection of some of his most famous works. Michael Pennington’s sublime narration of the audiobook is a revelation.
Favorite Poems:
“The Charge of the Light Brigade”
“The Song of the Lotus-Eaters”
“The Lady of Shallot”
“Sweet and Low”
“Summer Night”
“In Memoriam”
“Crossing the Bar”
Favorite Poems:
“The Charge of the Light Brigade”
“The Song of the Lotus-Eaters”
“The Lady of Shallot”
“Sweet and Low”
“Summer Night”
“In Memoriam”
“Crossing the Bar”
May 11, 2024
I love Tennyson and I love this poetry series. I understand why they do it but this particular volume had loads of selected passages from longer poems rather than longer poems themselves. But the guy DID write really long poems.
July 16, 2025
Truly a virtuose, and master of the English language.
September 4, 2013
Best parts:
1
Pierced through with knotted thorns of barren pain,
Deep in forethought of dark calamities,
Sick of the coming time and the coming woe,
As one that tramples some volcanic pain
And through the yawning rifts and chasms hears
The scummy sulphur seething far below
And dares not to advance or to retire...
E'en so I lay upon my bed at night:
All my delight was gone: my hope was fresh
No longer: and I lay with sobbing breath,
Walled round, shut up, imbarred, moaning for light,
A carcase in the coffin of this flesh,
Pierced through with loathly worms of utter death.
2
Myriads of rivulets hurrying through the lawn,
The moan of doves in immemorial elms,
And murmuring of innumerable bees. (from The Princess)
3
Tears, idle tears, I know not what they mean,
Tears from the depth of some divine despair
Rise in the heart, and gather to the eyes,
In looking on the happy Autumn-fields,
And thinking of the days that are no more. (from The Princess)
4
I sometimes hold it half a sin
To put in words the grief I feel;
For words, like Nature, half reveal
And half conceal the Soul within. (from In Memoriam A.H.H.)
5
In The Valley of Cauteretz
1
Pierced through with knotted thorns of barren pain,
Deep in forethought of dark calamities,
Sick of the coming time and the coming woe,
As one that tramples some volcanic pain
And through the yawning rifts and chasms hears
The scummy sulphur seething far below
And dares not to advance or to retire...
E'en so I lay upon my bed at night:
All my delight was gone: my hope was fresh
No longer: and I lay with sobbing breath,
Walled round, shut up, imbarred, moaning for light,
A carcase in the coffin of this flesh,
Pierced through with loathly worms of utter death.
2
Myriads of rivulets hurrying through the lawn,
The moan of doves in immemorial elms,
And murmuring of innumerable bees. (from The Princess)
3
Tears, idle tears, I know not what they mean,
Tears from the depth of some divine despair
Rise in the heart, and gather to the eyes,
In looking on the happy Autumn-fields,
And thinking of the days that are no more. (from The Princess)
4
I sometimes hold it half a sin
To put in words the grief I feel;
For words, like Nature, half reveal
And half conceal the Soul within. (from In Memoriam A.H.H.)
5
In The Valley of Cauteretz
September 28, 2012
I thought that this was a good book of poetry. I had never really read anything written by Tennyson before but I found his poems to be rather enjoyable. Since he lived in the nineteenth century it’s to be expected that some of his poems are a little hard to read and understand. Something I really liked about this book was that there were little keys that helped explain the poems. For example if there was a word that is now uncommon or a word that was used in a different way than it normally is it would be explained down at the bottom of the page. I found this tool to be very helpful and it made understanding and enjoying the poems a lot easier. I was also a fan of the illustrations in this book. The pictures looked painted and the colors chosen were rich and deep which really made them stand out and add to the text.
November 14, 2023
My favorites: Ulysses, the outcast, break break break, the splendour falls (blow bugle), tears idle tears, in memoriam A.H.H., charge of the light brigade, Tithonus
It was really fun to read out loud and had nice musicality. I especially felt his work based on Greek myths was powerful. I didn’t care for the King Arthur ones. There were also a couple that exulted the civilizing mission and imperialism. not ideal. I won’t be reading those again. but hey, what’s an old British dude if not imperialist?
It was really fun to read out loud and had nice musicality. I especially felt his work based on Greek myths was powerful. I didn’t care for the King Arthur ones. There were also a couple that exulted the civilizing mission and imperialism. not ideal. I won’t be reading those again. but hey, what’s an old British dude if not imperialist?
January 4, 2017
I checked this book out from the library and loved it so much I decided to buy it. It's a great introduction to Tennyson and one of the most easily accessible books of poetry that I've read. I admit, I haven't read a lot of poetry books, but that's because they often seem frivolous or hard to read. This one is meaningful and left me pondering. It's the perfect length. The selections are very good. I loved the illustrations.
September 1, 2021
Alex Michaelides uses Tennyson's poetry in his well-paced thriller "The Maidens." Michaelides also Tennyson backstory of living with grief & examining it as an effective counterpoint to his protagonist, Mariana Andros. If it takes a thriller to surface a well-known writer & re-read his/her poetry, I'm not complaining one ounce.
Listening to & reading Tennyson today, there are so many quotable (and infinitely quoted) lines in his writing. Looking forward to reading all of "In Memorium."
Listening to & reading Tennyson today, there are so many quotable (and infinitely quoted) lines in his writing. Looking forward to reading all of "In Memorium."
November 24, 2024
This small but excellent collection features judicious selections from Tennyson's longer pieces alongside some of his best shorter work, such as 'Break, Break, Break' and 'Crossing the Bar'. The extensions of Homer ('The Lotos Eaters' and 'Ulysses') and Arthuriana feel like Pre-Raphaelite paintings in words, demonstrating Tennyson's unmatched gift for bringing myths to life while imbuing them with his own way of expressing universal human feeling.
October 14, 2025
Dark house, by which once more I stand
Here in the long unlovely street,
Doors, where my heart was used to beat
So quickly, waiting for a hand,
A hand that can be clasped no more—
Behold me, for I cannot sleep,
And like a guilty thing I creep
At earliest morning to the door.
He is not here; but far away
The noise of life begins again,
And ghastly through the drizzling rain
On the bald street breaks the blank day.
Here in the long unlovely street,
Doors, where my heart was used to beat
So quickly, waiting for a hand,
A hand that can be clasped no more—
Behold me, for I cannot sleep,
And like a guilty thing I creep
At earliest morning to the door.
He is not here; but far away
The noise of life begins again,
And ghastly through the drizzling rain
On the bald street breaks the blank day.
July 24, 2011
a good selection of poems
and information about the poems explaining them to children
a collection of simple poems with definitions on the page for young children
and information about the poems explaining them to children
a collection of simple poems with definitions on the page for young children
November 12, 2011
An magnificent selection of Tennyson's work that might introduce this fabulous poet to a younger audience.
April 6, 2020
I heard The Lady of Shallot many years ago in school and always thought it waa beautiful. Many of the others here, including the 600 and the Death of Arthur were haunting and beautiful.
February 16, 2021
Read for part of my 2021 reading challenge.
May 1, 2021
Poets never cease to amaze me, using few words to create such vivid imagery and depth of emotion.
February 26, 2023
This concise yet impactful edition delivers the spirit of Tennyson in a round and balanced way.
June 11, 2023
I very much enjoyed this deep dive into the poetry of Tennyson and Ulysses remains one of my all-time favourite poems.
July 19, 2023
I really enjoyed his use of imagery and the poetry connecting back to old myths and legends.
March 3, 2024
A lovely sampling of Tennyson’s poetry.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews