What do you think?
Rate this book
The Highwayman
"And still on a winter's night, they say, when the wind is in the trees,
When the moon is a ghostly galleon tossed upon cloudy seas,
When the road is a gypsy's ribbon looping the purple moor,
The highwayman comes riding..."
In Alfred Noye's thrilling poem, charged with drama and tension, we ride with the Highwayman and recoil from the terrible fate that befalls him and his sweetheart Bess, the landlord's black-eyed daughter.
The vivid imagery of the writing is matched by Charles Keeping's haunting illustrations, which broke the boundaries of picture book illustration when it was first published and won him the Kate Greenaway Medal. This new edition features rescanned artwork to capture the breath-taking detail of Keeping's illustrations and a striking new cover.
'The Highwayman' is a narrative poem written by Alfred Noyes, first published in the August 1906 issue of Blackwood's Magazine, based in Edinburgh, Scotland. The following year it was included in Noyes' collection, 'Forty Singing Seamen and Other Poems', becoming an immediate success.
Edition MSRP: £5⁹⁹ UK (ISBN 0-19-272370-7)
Printed in Hong Kong
When the moon is a ghostly galleon tossed upon cloudy seas,
When the road is a gypsy's ribbon looping the purple moor,
The highwayman comes riding..."
In Alfred Noye's thrilling poem, charged with drama and tension, we ride with the Highwayman and recoil from the terrible fate that befalls him and his sweetheart Bess, the landlord's black-eyed daughter.
The vivid imagery of the writing is matched by Charles Keeping's haunting illustrations, which broke the boundaries of picture book illustration when it was first published and won him the Kate Greenaway Medal. This new edition features rescanned artwork to capture the breath-taking detail of Keeping's illustrations and a striking new cover.
'The Highwayman' is a narrative poem written by Alfred Noyes, first published in the August 1906 issue of Blackwood's Magazine, based in Edinburgh, Scotland. The following year it was included in Noyes' collection, 'Forty Singing Seamen and Other Poems', becoming an immediate success.
Edition MSRP: £5⁹⁹ UK (ISBN 0-19-272370-7)
Printed in Hong Kong
32 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1906
36 people are currently reading
3313 people want to read
About the author
Alfred Noyes
491 books58 followersAlfred Noyes was the son of Alfred and Amelia Adams Noyes. His father was a teacher and taught Latin and Greek and in Aberystwyth, Wales. In 1898, Alfred attended Exeter College in Oxford. Though he failed to earn a degree, the young poet published his first collection of poetry, The Loom of Years, in 1902.
Between 1903 and 1908, Noyes published five volumes of poetry including The Forest of Wild Thyme (1905) and The Flower of Old Japan and Other Poems (1907). His books were widely reviewed and were published both in Britain and the United States. Among his best-known poems from this time are The Highwayman and Drake. Drake, which appeared serially in Blackwood's Magazine, was a two-hundred page epic about life at sea.
Noyes married Garnett Daniels in 1907, and they had three children. His increasing popularity allowed the family to live off royalty cheques. In 1914, Noyes accepted a teaching position at Princeton University, where he taught English Literature until 1923. He was a noted critic of modernist writers, particularly James Joyce. Likewise, his work at this time was criticized by some for its refusal to embrace the modernist movement.
For more information, please see http://www.answers.com/topic/alfred-n...
Between 1903 and 1908, Noyes published five volumes of poetry including The Forest of Wild Thyme (1905) and The Flower of Old Japan and Other Poems (1907). His books were widely reviewed and were published both in Britain and the United States. Among his best-known poems from this time are The Highwayman and Drake. Drake, which appeared serially in Blackwood's Magazine, was a two-hundred page epic about life at sea.
Noyes married Garnett Daniels in 1907, and they had three children. His increasing popularity allowed the family to live off royalty cheques. In 1914, Noyes accepted a teaching position at Princeton University, where he taught English Literature until 1923. He was a noted critic of modernist writers, particularly James Joyce. Likewise, his work at this time was criticized by some for its refusal to embrace the modernist movement.
For more information, please see http://www.answers.com/topic/alfred-n...
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 337 reviews
April 3, 2025
AUDIOBOOK Enclosed!
Read this, and memorized much of it, in my green 'n idealistic 12th year.
Adulthood casts aspersions on such Kermit-like behaviour, and with good reason.
Life's much more grim than such fervid valour knows.
And the highwayman is blindly brave.
His end will be grim.
He meets his nemesis as I would in the following year. His blind spot is his pride. And ardour for Black Bess?
Yes, that too.
You know, Edwardian times were blindly romantic...
Noyes wrote this not knowing the mud and guts of WWI, Europe's Coming of Age.
Bliss was it in that dawn to be alive!
***
The Highwayman, in its desperately romantic tenor of throbbing hexameters, is definitely a work for tweeny Kermits.
If you're young like that you'll love its swashbuckling bravado.
And, if you'd like to read it, in all its shining glory, I'll help you - by now gifting you the audiobook in its dramatic film version!
https://youtu.be/MNvBVJpa1h4
Read this, and memorized much of it, in my green 'n idealistic 12th year.
Adulthood casts aspersions on such Kermit-like behaviour, and with good reason.
Life's much more grim than such fervid valour knows.
And the highwayman is blindly brave.
His end will be grim.
He meets his nemesis as I would in the following year. His blind spot is his pride. And ardour for Black Bess?
Yes, that too.
You know, Edwardian times were blindly romantic...
Noyes wrote this not knowing the mud and guts of WWI, Europe's Coming of Age.
Bliss was it in that dawn to be alive!
***
The Highwayman, in its desperately romantic tenor of throbbing hexameters, is definitely a work for tweeny Kermits.
If you're young like that you'll love its swashbuckling bravado.
And, if you'd like to read it, in all its shining glory, I'll help you - by now gifting you the audiobook in its dramatic film version!
https://youtu.be/MNvBVJpa1h4
June 10, 2017
Alfred Noyes poem was first published in 1906 and was an instant success, and it has remained a favorite for over 100 years. In the 1990's the BBC rated it 15th on their list of "The Nations Favorite Poems". Noyes got the inspiration for the poem while staying in a cottage on Bagshot Heath, then part of Windsor Forest.
"The Highwayman suggested to me one blustery night when the sound of the wind in the pines gave me the first line":
The Wind was a torrent of darkness among the gusty trees.
The Moon was a ghostly galleon tossed upon cloudy seas.
The Road was a ribbon of moonlight over the purple moor,
And the Highwayman came riding --
Riding -- riding.
The Highwayman came riding, up to the old inn door.
(First Verse)
"The Highwayman suggested to me one blustery night when the sound of the wind in the pines gave me the first line":
The Wind was a torrent of darkness among the gusty trees.
The Moon was a ghostly galleon tossed upon cloudy seas.
The Road was a ribbon of moonlight over the purple moor,
And the Highwayman came riding --
Riding -- riding.
The Highwayman came riding, up to the old inn door.
(First Verse)
April 3, 2011
This book might be the single biggest factor in my daughter's fascination with the macabre and spooky.
Seven years old now, Brontë loves anything horror. She loves to be scared, and her artwork reflects that. She draws zombies and vampires and all the girls in her pictures look like the lead actresses from any Tim Burton movie you'd like to choose.
When she was very little, just a toddler, some friends gave us The Highwayman, and it's rhythm fast made it a favourite around our house. Both Brontë and Miloš loved to have it read to them late at night, and I couldn't resist obliging them. Only recently, however, have they really grasped what was going on. They always knew the general plot, but the nastier bits of the story, are finally coming clear, and it is making Brontë love the story.
The gothic creepiness of the artwork only makes her love the poetry of Alfred Noyes more.
Imagine that. A girl named Brontë in love with all things gothic. I wonder what she'll make of Wuthering Heights and Jane Eyre when she's old enough? I'm guessing she'll be extremely proud of her name. I just hope it doesn't become a weight around her neck.
In the meantime, I'll keep reading this to her until she's tired of hearing my voice and is busy reading it to herself. It's a great book. Perfect for all the little horror lovers in your life.
Time to go play Frankenstein with Brontë and Miloš. I'm a lucky Pa.
Seven years old now, Brontë loves anything horror. She loves to be scared, and her artwork reflects that. She draws zombies and vampires and all the girls in her pictures look like the lead actresses from any Tim Burton movie you'd like to choose.
When she was very little, just a toddler, some friends gave us The Highwayman, and it's rhythm fast made it a favourite around our house. Both Brontë and Miloš loved to have it read to them late at night, and I couldn't resist obliging them. Only recently, however, have they really grasped what was going on. They always knew the general plot, but the nastier bits of the story, are finally coming clear, and it is making Brontë love the story.
The gothic creepiness of the artwork only makes her love the poetry of Alfred Noyes more.
Imagine that. A girl named Brontë in love with all things gothic. I wonder what she'll make of Wuthering Heights and Jane Eyre when she's old enough? I'm guessing she'll be extremely proud of her name. I just hope it doesn't become a weight around her neck.
In the meantime, I'll keep reading this to her until she's tired of hearing my voice and is busy reading it to herself. It's a great book. Perfect for all the little horror lovers in your life.
Time to go play Frankenstein with Brontë and Miloš. I'm a lucky Pa.
April 9, 2011
As I am starting to write this review I am listening to "All Soul's Night" by Loreena McKennitt, which is fitting because she is the reason why I read this poem. I find it impossible to talk about this poem without talking about her. She's great; she's a bard.
I first encountered her poem on the first ablum of McKennit's I ever listened to - this was back when they were still producing tapes. I still have the tape, by the way. On her The Book of Secrets McKennitt set this poem to music and sang it (leaving out a stanza or two). I brought the ablum because of "Mummer's Dance", but "The Highwayman" is my favorite song from that ablum. It has appeared on a few other of her works, including live ablums. If you haven't listened to it, go do so after reading this review. It doesn't matter if you do it before or after reading this poem. While you're at it, track down McKennit's "Bonnie Swans" as well and then go read Robin McKinley's version of the tale.
Okay, back for the poem (and no, McKennitt doesn't pay me).
Noyes' poem tales a story of a highwayman (hence the title. A highwayman is a robber for those of you don't read anything older than 2 years ago. Kinda like Bonnie and Clyde on a horse. Actually, think Johnny Depp on a horse. Got it?). Actually, it's more about his girlfriend Bess and what she does to help him. (I'm trying not to ruin the poem here for those of you who haven't read it).
It captures that whole Wuthering Heights feel. It's all wind swept moors, guns, and ghosts with love, not lust, thrown in. It demands to be recited in a smoke filled pub during the night with a rapt audience.
I suppose, if I were being all high and mighty, I would say that Noyes' poetry isn't up to the level of say Scott or Wordsworth. Who cares? It's an engrossing story. Easy to remember too. (and we all know that Wordsworth should have stopped writing long before he did, don't we?).
Go out and reads this overlooked gem of a poem.
I first encountered her poem on the first ablum of McKennit's I ever listened to - this was back when they were still producing tapes. I still have the tape, by the way. On her The Book of Secrets McKennitt set this poem to music and sang it (leaving out a stanza or two). I brought the ablum because of "Mummer's Dance", but "The Highwayman" is my favorite song from that ablum. It has appeared on a few other of her works, including live ablums. If you haven't listened to it, go do so after reading this review. It doesn't matter if you do it before or after reading this poem. While you're at it, track down McKennit's "Bonnie Swans" as well and then go read Robin McKinley's version of the tale.
Okay, back for the poem (and no, McKennitt doesn't pay me).
Noyes' poem tales a story of a highwayman (hence the title. A highwayman is a robber for those of you don't read anything older than 2 years ago. Kinda like Bonnie and Clyde on a horse. Actually, think Johnny Depp on a horse. Got it?). Actually, it's more about his girlfriend Bess and what she does to help him. (I'm trying not to ruin the poem here for those of you who haven't read it).
It captures that whole Wuthering Heights feel. It's all wind swept moors, guns, and ghosts with love, not lust, thrown in. It demands to be recited in a smoke filled pub during the night with a rapt audience.
I suppose, if I were being all high and mighty, I would say that Noyes' poetry isn't up to the level of say Scott or Wordsworth. Who cares? It's an engrossing story. Easy to remember too. (and we all know that Wordsworth should have stopped writing long before he did, don't we?).
Go out and reads this overlooked gem of a poem.
April 25, 2025
The wind was a torrent of darkness among the gusty trees.
The moon was a ghostly galleon tossed upon cloudy seas.
The road was a ribbon of moonlight over the purple moor,
And the highwayman came riding—
Riding—riding—
The highwayman came riding, up to the old inn-door.
I was just a kid when I first encountered this atmospheric, romantic poem in the collection The Charge of the Light Brigade And Other Story Poems (https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...) Its dramatically told story of a dashing but doomed highwayman and his ill-fated love mesmerized me then, just as it still does on every reread. This is poetry as high, romantic drama, meant for no higher purpose than to thrill the reader, and I love it for that.
Through the years, I’ve discovered more reasons to appreciate this wonderful poem. Alfred Noyes, the poem’s author, was a reactionary against the modernist school of literature. Like me, he despised the work of T.S. Eliot, which he accurately described as “abstruse and pretentious.” (And though I part ways with him on many of his judgments — against Proust, against H.L. Mencken, I will always feel a comradeship with those who hate how Eliot savaged poetry.) The Highwayman is the absolute antithesis to the abomination of Eliot’s The Waste Land. It is a poem designed to entertain rather than befuddle, a poem in service to the reader rather than the pompous ego of the poet.
During my college years, I discovered the folk musician Phil Ochs (himself a doomed romantic) and through him rediscovered this cherished poem from my childhood. Ochs turned Noyes’ poem into a haunting folk ballad, which is such a natural fit that it feels more a traditional ballad than a poem written in the early 20th century. Ochs gave me yet another way to appreciate the highwayman’s story. (Listen here: https://youtu.be/A9fWjzYiRUE?si=fxJ71...)
As it turns out, Ochs’ interpretation of The Highwayman is just one of many cultural adaptations of this dramatically appealing poem. In 1933 it was adapted for chorus and orchestra by English composer Armstrong Gibbs. In 1951 it was made into a Hollywood film of the same name, of which poet Noyes observed, “the poem itself is used and followed with the most artistic care.” John Otway, a British singer-songwriter adapted it as a rock song in 1979, Loreena McKennitt adapted it again as a folk song in 1997, and Fleetwood Mac based their 1987 video of their song Everywhere on the poem. The Highwayman possesses a power that continues to entrance us and shape our culture, which is the true measure of a great work of art.
The moon was a ghostly galleon tossed upon cloudy seas.
The road was a ribbon of moonlight over the purple moor,
And the highwayman came riding—
Riding—riding—
The highwayman came riding, up to the old inn-door.
I was just a kid when I first encountered this atmospheric, romantic poem in the collection The Charge of the Light Brigade And Other Story Poems (https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...) Its dramatically told story of a dashing but doomed highwayman and his ill-fated love mesmerized me then, just as it still does on every reread. This is poetry as high, romantic drama, meant for no higher purpose than to thrill the reader, and I love it for that.
Through the years, I’ve discovered more reasons to appreciate this wonderful poem. Alfred Noyes, the poem’s author, was a reactionary against the modernist school of literature. Like me, he despised the work of T.S. Eliot, which he accurately described as “abstruse and pretentious.” (And though I part ways with him on many of his judgments — against Proust, against H.L. Mencken, I will always feel a comradeship with those who hate how Eliot savaged poetry.) The Highwayman is the absolute antithesis to the abomination of Eliot’s The Waste Land. It is a poem designed to entertain rather than befuddle, a poem in service to the reader rather than the pompous ego of the poet.
During my college years, I discovered the folk musician Phil Ochs (himself a doomed romantic) and through him rediscovered this cherished poem from my childhood. Ochs turned Noyes’ poem into a haunting folk ballad, which is such a natural fit that it feels more a traditional ballad than a poem written in the early 20th century. Ochs gave me yet another way to appreciate the highwayman’s story. (Listen here: https://youtu.be/A9fWjzYiRUE?si=fxJ71...)
As it turns out, Ochs’ interpretation of The Highwayman is just one of many cultural adaptations of this dramatically appealing poem. In 1933 it was adapted for chorus and orchestra by English composer Armstrong Gibbs. In 1951 it was made into a Hollywood film of the same name, of which poet Noyes observed, “the poem itself is used and followed with the most artistic care.” John Otway, a British singer-songwriter adapted it as a rock song in 1979, Loreena McKennitt adapted it again as a folk song in 1997, and Fleetwood Mac based their 1987 video of their song Everywhere on the poem. The Highwayman possesses a power that continues to entrance us and shape our culture, which is the true measure of a great work of art.
November 10, 2020
By far the best late autumn poem to read in a Middle School setting, especially if it is equipped with scary illustrations!
Sometimes I wonder if the worries about students' reading habits have gone full circle at the moment. I remember when we complained that they were not interested in poetry or drama, but focused only on fantasy novels in never-ending instalments. Back then, we felt that the DIVERSITY of reading habits was threatened.
Then the smartphone hit the school librarian's life like a bomb, and diversity was replaced as a target with ANYTHING that keeps them off the phone for 15 minutes. Big, chunky fantasy novels collected dust on the shelves while increasingly visual books found their way to decreasingly interested "customers".
"Want to try this novel?"
"Nah, too much text!"
The dialogue was repeated over and over, and the school librarian felt sorry for the endangered species that she put so much effort into, cataloguing, wrapping, displaying...
Then one day, the millionth student requested something "short and exciting" for mandatory class reading and the librarian felt she had nothing to lose.
"Why not try a poem, then?"
"Is it short?"
"Oh, yes, much shorter than any novel!"
"Cool!"
"Take this one for example: it is about a gangster and his lover and how they are being chased but try to communicate secretly!"
"Does it have a happy end?"
"You'll have to figure out for yourself!"
...Back, he spurred like a madman, shrieking a curse to the sky,
With the white road smoking behind him and his rapier brandished high.
Blood red were his spurs in the golden noon; wine-red was his velvet coat;
When they shot him down on the highway,
Down like a dog on the highway,
And he lay in his blood on the highway, with a bunch of lace at his throat...
Sometimes I wonder if the worries about students' reading habits have gone full circle at the moment. I remember when we complained that they were not interested in poetry or drama, but focused only on fantasy novels in never-ending instalments. Back then, we felt that the DIVERSITY of reading habits was threatened.
Then the smartphone hit the school librarian's life like a bomb, and diversity was replaced as a target with ANYTHING that keeps them off the phone for 15 minutes. Big, chunky fantasy novels collected dust on the shelves while increasingly visual books found their way to decreasingly interested "customers".
"Want to try this novel?"
"Nah, too much text!"
The dialogue was repeated over and over, and the school librarian felt sorry for the endangered species that she put so much effort into, cataloguing, wrapping, displaying...
Then one day, the millionth student requested something "short and exciting" for mandatory class reading and the librarian felt she had nothing to lose.
"Why not try a poem, then?"
"Is it short?"
"Oh, yes, much shorter than any novel!"
"Cool!"
"Take this one for example: it is about a gangster and his lover and how they are being chased but try to communicate secretly!"
"Does it have a happy end?"
"You'll have to figure out for yourself!"
...Back, he spurred like a madman, shrieking a curse to the sky,
With the white road smoking behind him and his rapier brandished high.
Blood red were his spurs in the golden noon; wine-red was his velvet coat;
When they shot him down on the highway,
Down like a dog on the highway,
And he lay in his blood on the highway, with a bunch of lace at his throat...
November 1, 2022
It only takes a few minutes to read, but I am quite sure I will never forget this tragic poem. It's written in that old style of poetry--with meter and rhyme. It begs to be read aloud.
August 3, 2020
This is a beautiful poem of heartbreak and devoted love. It was taught to me by my grandmother when I was a child. It is a favourite of mine, along with The Listeners by Walter De La Mare and The Ballad of Father Gilligan by William Butler Yeats. The illustrations in this little book are beautiful too they were drawn by Charles Keeping who illustrated so many children's books also. I was luck enough to meet Mr Keeping when I was at school and I have his autograph.
March 31, 2015
It's amazing animated
To read and hear the poem ..
:)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bCtJD...
To read and hear the poem ..
:)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bCtJD...
April 30, 2012
I have always loved ballads as a child, because of the wonderful romantic dramas that came packaged in attractive rhyming stanzas. Yet according to me, out of the hundreds of ballads that I've read/heard, i guess that this is forever going to be the BEST one ever!
We had it as a part of our school text when I was in my 8th standard, and thanks to the wonderful skills of our lovely English teacher Mrs. Basu, we went on to appreciate it even more than if I'd just read it on the go! Even though its a long poem, I still remember it by heart! Later we even went on to stage a play based on the ballad, which till date remains as one of the fondest memories of my growing up years.
Noyes' use of words is so rich, that the images will stay with you for a long long time. Sample this:
"Over the cobbles he clattered and clashed in the dark inn-yard,
And he tapped with his whip on the shutters, but all was locked and barred;
He whistled a tune to the window, and who should be waiting there
But the landlord's black-eyed daughter,
Bess, the landlord's daughter,
Plaiting a dark red love-knot into her long black hair."
Filled with elements of horror, romance and tragedy, this ballad makes for a great read on a stormy night, and will make even a confessed poetry-hater fall in love with the wonderful art form. So go ahead,look it up in Google, and read it!
We had it as a part of our school text when I was in my 8th standard, and thanks to the wonderful skills of our lovely English teacher Mrs. Basu, we went on to appreciate it even more than if I'd just read it on the go! Even though its a long poem, I still remember it by heart! Later we even went on to stage a play based on the ballad, which till date remains as one of the fondest memories of my growing up years.
Noyes' use of words is so rich, that the images will stay with you for a long long time. Sample this:
"Over the cobbles he clattered and clashed in the dark inn-yard,
And he tapped with his whip on the shutters, but all was locked and barred;
He whistled a tune to the window, and who should be waiting there
But the landlord's black-eyed daughter,
Bess, the landlord's daughter,
Plaiting a dark red love-knot into her long black hair."
Filled with elements of horror, romance and tragedy, this ballad makes for a great read on a stormy night, and will make even a confessed poetry-hater fall in love with the wonderful art form. So go ahead,look it up in Google, and read it!
August 9, 2016
A chillingly beautiful poem. Tragedy awaits the roguish highwayman and his lover. This haunting poem has remained with me since primary school. Beautiful and macabre.
June 18, 2021
The Wind was a torrent of darkness among the gusty trees.
The Moon was a ghostly galleon tossed upon cloudy seas.
The Road was a ribbon of moonlight over the purple moor
The first verse itself is so beautiful!!!
The Moon was a ghostly galleon tossed upon cloudy seas.
The Road was a ribbon of moonlight over the purple moor
The first verse itself is so beautiful!!!
December 31, 2018
Gorgeous artwork by Mikolaycak accompanies this excellent and tragic ballad-style story by Noyes about a doomed highwayman and his girl.
March 5, 2015
The amazing poem, The Highwayman by Alfred Noyes, is a dramatic romance about The Highwayman who is a robber that is in love with his bonny sweetheart, Bess, the landlord's daughter. But, when the highwayman leaves Bess to go rob someone, the Redcoats (King George's men) come to find the highwayman. Instead, the Redcoats use Bess as a hostage to be "bait" for the highwayman to come back. However, in the name of love, Bess takes the musket and shoots herself as a warning that the highwayman shouldn't come back because he will go straight into the Redcoats' trap. Then, the highwayman makes a dumb move and comes back for Bess, but he finds out that Bess has died for him. With anger, he rides off like a madman, but goes straight into the trap and gets shot down on the highway by the Redcoats. The characters in the poem seem extremely believable because Bess and the Highwayman have real love and emotions. They sacrifice their lives for each other just like how real lovers would. In my head, the highwayman was tall and pretty buff with brown hair. Bess had long, silky black hair with shiny black eyes and pale skin. In the poem, the quote, " ...and warned him-with her death," shows so much because it shows how Bess would sacrifice herself just for her love for the highwayman. When Bess shoots herself (action), it shows that Bess is a loving, caring, kind, sacrificing person. In my opinion, this romantic poem is the best poem ever because of the sacrificing love in it.
July 1, 2016
This was lovely and I loved it.
Probably because I didn't have to analyse it in school, but with my own natural analytical skills with my sister Lena, who was the one to tell me to read this.
However, maybe lovely isn't the word, what with all the death in this (which I very much appreciated, as it took me by surprise).
It was beautiful and very creatively written and I enjoyed reading it aloud on Lena's phone while she skipped on the skipping rope in front of me, forever analysing and commenting on the different lines and phrases.
Sorry for the greasy chicken stains on your phone, Lena. I can't wait to listen to and watch the animated narrated video of this poem with you.
Probably because I didn't have to analyse it in school, but with my own natural analytical skills with my sister Lena, who was the one to tell me to read this.
However, maybe lovely isn't the word, what with all the death in this (which I very much appreciated, as it took me by surprise).
It was beautiful and very creatively written and I enjoyed reading it aloud on Lena's phone while she skipped on the skipping rope in front of me, forever analysing and commenting on the different lines and phrases.
Sorry for the greasy chicken stains on your phone, Lena. I can't wait to listen to and watch the animated narrated video of this poem with you.
October 23, 2010
I've been in love with this poem since I first read it in my 7th grade English class. The terrible fate of the two lovers, Bess and her Highwayman, is so tragic. I love how the ending implies that their spirits still linger at the old Inn after death. It's a beautiful poem and a personal favorite of mine.
January 2, 2008
This version combines the classic, tragic--romantic poem with art deco 1920s style illustrations. An unusual but visually stunning and beautiful mix.
June 7, 2020
Noyes's dramatic narrative poem is transformed into a thrilling poetry picture book through Keeping's imaginative illustrations.
I think this would be a great poem for upper KS2 because there are so many great examples of effective elements of poetry and writing techniques. For example, the metaphor: "When the road is a ribbon of moonlight" creates the image of a never-ending road, linking to the lovers' relationship in the story as they believe they will be together forever. This also demonstrates the importance of word choice in poetry and using techniques for effect to children and it would be a fantastic model for a class to use.
The poet's use of repetition draws the reader's attention to the key areas of the story, creating a pacing rhythm that appears to mimic the highwayman galloping down the road to visit his love, Bess.
I particularly enjoyed this version of the poem because the illustrations bring the words alive and this will engage children in the story. Some may not realise that this a poem because it's presented in a non-traditional format in the book and this could spark a new love of poetry and its diversity. Setting the poem out in a book also makes the reader pause as they turn each page, allowing them to enjoy more of the language and the words.
I think this would be a great poem for upper KS2 because there are so many great examples of effective elements of poetry and writing techniques. For example, the metaphor: "When the road is a ribbon of moonlight" creates the image of a never-ending road, linking to the lovers' relationship in the story as they believe they will be together forever. This also demonstrates the importance of word choice in poetry and using techniques for effect to children and it would be a fantastic model for a class to use.
The poet's use of repetition draws the reader's attention to the key areas of the story, creating a pacing rhythm that appears to mimic the highwayman galloping down the road to visit his love, Bess.
I particularly enjoyed this version of the poem because the illustrations bring the words alive and this will engage children in the story. Some may not realise that this a poem because it's presented in a non-traditional format in the book and this could spark a new love of poetry and its diversity. Setting the poem out in a book also makes the reader pause as they turn each page, allowing them to enjoy more of the language and the words.
June 9, 2017
As a teenager, I fell in love with this poem in English Literature. My love hardened as I watched Anne of Green Gables recite the poem. The story is so romantic and sweet, I remember that I memorized most of it by heart and recited it in school theater.
The wind was a torrent of darkness among the gusty trees.
The moon was a ghostly galleon tossed upon cloudy seas.
The road was a ribbon of moonlight over the purple moor,
And the highwayman came riding—
Riding—riding—
The highwayman came riding, up to the old inn-door.
February 14, 2011
My absolute favorite poem of all time. It is written incredibly well, full of remarkable imagery and an utterly heartbreaking plot. Its a quick read, but I will never forget this stunning piece of work.
Tell me this is not the greatest stanza written in the english language:
The wind was a torrent of darkness upon the gusty trees,
The moon was a ghostly galleon tossed upon cloudy seas,
The road was a ribbon of moonlight, looping the purple moor,
And the highwayman came riding-
Riding, riding-
The highwayman came riding, up to the old inn door
♥
Tell me this is not the greatest stanza written in the english language:
The wind was a torrent of darkness upon the gusty trees,
The moon was a ghostly galleon tossed upon cloudy seas,
The road was a ribbon of moonlight, looping the purple moor,
And the highwayman came riding-
Riding, riding-
The highwayman came riding, up to the old inn door
♥
April 1, 2020
I love Old Time Radio and I am currently listening to "Dangerously Yours" which is a romantic adventure show. This morning I heard Alfred Noyles' poem "The Highwayman" dramatized for radio. I included the link below. I then read his poem from a collection of his work. It is indeed romantic tragedy which the radio program takes license to make the story more radio worthy. I loved both poem and radio version.
Dangerously Yours, June 6, 1944.
https://www.oldtimeradiodownloads.com...
💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢SPOILER ALERT 💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢
The radio version has the highwayman robs the carriage that carries Sir Guy and the Inn keepers' daughter, Bess. The highways steals a kiss from Bess which sparks love for the outlaw. They plan to elope and live on a farm but when he is to come at midnight but King George's men are waiting for him and using Bess as a ploy, this part of the poem holds true but in the poem the father does not inform the police which makes the poem sweeter because he did not bar his daughter from loving. Almost Romeo and Juliet ish minus the family troubles and Bess does not take death but does before her lover.
Dangerously Yours, June 6, 1944.
https://www.oldtimeradiodownloads.com...
💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢SPOILER ALERT 💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢
The radio version has the highwayman robs the carriage that carries Sir Guy and the Inn keepers' daughter, Bess. The highways steals a kiss from Bess which sparks love for the outlaw. They plan to elope and live on a farm but when he is to come at midnight but King George's men are waiting for him and using Bess as a ploy, this part of the poem holds true but in the poem the father does not inform the police which makes the poem sweeter because he did not bar his daughter from loving. Almost Romeo and Juliet ish minus the family troubles and Bess does not take death but does before her lover.
June 25, 2018
I’m shocked that it’s taken me so long to finally read ‘The Highwayman’! I found the storyline to be excellent and the illustrations are extremely dramatic and haunting. The combination of Noyes’ exhilarating rhymes and Keeping’s eerie illustrations are breathtaking and I thoroughly enjoyed taking my time to read this poem. I would find it really interesting to see what children think of this poem (and the illustrations) in the classroom. Also, I think it would be an excellent stimulus for children to perform with to create their own dramatic retelling of the poem! Definitely one I will be using in school- I aim to read this over and over so that I’ll be able to perform it to my class and hopefully they’ll be able to join in too... all part of being a ‘reading classroom’!
February 24, 2024
I thought Bess was a horse for a minute and was very confused, but yeah 10/10 very sad very good story
October 10, 2019
This book includes lots of detailed description and incorporates a lot of techniques such as similes and metaphors to help with the imagery. I would use this with an upper KS2 class because of the violent and dark themes within it. However, I do think this book is great to use for introducing poetry and rhyme schemes, especially repetition. This book includes some lovely illustrations and i can imagine using this book within a drama lesson.
October 24, 2021
Alfred Noyes poem was first published in 1906 and was an instant success, and it has remained a favorite for over 100 years. In the 1990's the BBC rated it 15th on their list of "The Nations Favorite Poems". Noyes got the inspiration for the poem while staying in a cottage on Bagshot Heath, then part of Windsor Forest.
"The Highwayman suggested to me one blustery night when the sound of the wind in the pines gave me the first line":
The Wind was a torrent of darkness among the gusty trees.
The Moon was a ghostly galleon tossed upon cloudy seas.
The Road was a ribbon of moonlight over the purple moor,
And the Highwayman came riding --
Riding -- riding.
The Highwayman came riding, up to the old inn door.
"The Highwayman suggested to me one blustery night when the sound of the wind in the pines gave me the first line":
The Wind was a torrent of darkness among the gusty trees.
The Moon was a ghostly galleon tossed upon cloudy seas.
The Road was a ribbon of moonlight over the purple moor,
And the Highwayman came riding --
Riding -- riding.
The Highwayman came riding, up to the old inn door.
March 5, 2015
Summary:The Highwayman was more of a dramatic romance story about 2 people such as the Highwayman and Bess sacrificing their lives trying to save each other. Tim was most likely jealous so he told the redcoats about the highwayman since he wanted Bess all to himself. Sadly, he didn't know Bess would die too.
Believable Characters:The characters seem very real because they have real emotions. They just seem very real.
Appearance:I imagined the highwayman as a tall man with blond hair with a blond mustache. He probably had a soft face with blue eyes. I just think of a rich cowboy basicly. I imagined Bess as Rapunzel's mom because they both have black, wavy hair.
Quote:I strongest quote that spoke to me was,"I shall be back with yellow gold before the morning light; Yet if they press me sharply, and harass me through the day, Then look for me by moonlight, Watch for me by moonlight, I'll come to thee by moonlight, though hell should bar the way." That quote meant that even if the highwayman gets pushed around or harassed, he will come back. The characters Bess and the highwayman sacrifice their lives for love, which proves their strong love for each other.
My opinion: The highwayman story was o.k. I just thought it was only more of a romance. Plus, this type of romance is pretty common in stories. I felt there wasn't much action and horror. More like drama and romance.
The only action was when the highwayman got shot. I imagined like a little fight which would turn into a fight to-the-DEATH with blood and stuff. It didn't exactly have everything like I thought it would. I also didn't really enjoy the story because of all the weird words. I'm not really good in vocabulary so as a result I didn't understand the story. It just had a lot of old weird words. In my opinion this story was O.K. I didn't exactly enjoy it but it's not like I'm reading a dictionary.
Believable Characters:The characters seem very real because they have real emotions. They just seem very real.
Appearance:I imagined the highwayman as a tall man with blond hair with a blond mustache. He probably had a soft face with blue eyes. I just think of a rich cowboy basicly. I imagined Bess as Rapunzel's mom because they both have black, wavy hair.
Quote:I strongest quote that spoke to me was,"I shall be back with yellow gold before the morning light; Yet if they press me sharply, and harass me through the day, Then look for me by moonlight, Watch for me by moonlight, I'll come to thee by moonlight, though hell should bar the way." That quote meant that even if the highwayman gets pushed around or harassed, he will come back. The characters Bess and the highwayman sacrifice their lives for love, which proves their strong love for each other.
My opinion: The highwayman story was o.k. I just thought it was only more of a romance. Plus, this type of romance is pretty common in stories. I felt there wasn't much action and horror. More like drama and romance.
The only action was when the highwayman got shot. I imagined like a little fight which would turn into a fight to-the-DEATH with blood and stuff. It didn't exactly have everything like I thought it would. I also didn't really enjoy the story because of all the weird words. I'm not really good in vocabulary so as a result I didn't understand the story. It just had a lot of old weird words. In my opinion this story was O.K. I didn't exactly enjoy it but it's not like I'm reading a dictionary.
March 5, 2015
The Highwayman is written by Alfred Noyes. This story is written as a poem and is a mixture of drama, romance, and violence. The Highwayman takes place around the 1800s and is about how a highwayman loves Bess, and how it goes down hill when the redcoats comes for him and Bess.
The main characters in this story is the Highwayman and Bess. Some minor characters are the red coats and Tim the ostler. The characters in the book seem very realistic to me. In my mind, I see the Highwayman has a very classy robber who with brown hair and soft eyes. I see Bess as a beautiful lady with the bright cherry lips and the softest black eyes. Her black long, wavy hair false gently to the side like silk. The Highwayman and Bess's love is very pure. Tim, in my mind, looks like a mad man with the greasiest hair there can be. His eyes are always alert and being the stalking guy he is, always looking at Bess, his crush.
Speech is also a trait that explains a character. A quote that the Highwayman says that tells the reader something about him is, "One kiss, my bonny sweetheart, I’m after a prize to-night,But I shall be back with the yellow gold before the morning light." This tells the reader a lot about the Highwayman. For example, that quote tells us the he compliments his girlfriend. It also tells us that he is a robber.
Action is another way to tells us about a character too. For example, Bess shows and action by shooting herself for sacrifice to tell the Highwayman the redcoats are here.
In conclusion, I like this story because it is a mixture of a lot of my favorite genres in one. I personally love the story it tells us. I recommend this to anyone and I surely will love to read The Highwayman again.
The main characters in this story is the Highwayman and Bess. Some minor characters are the red coats and Tim the ostler. The characters in the book seem very realistic to me. In my mind, I see the Highwayman has a very classy robber who with brown hair and soft eyes. I see Bess as a beautiful lady with the bright cherry lips and the softest black eyes. Her black long, wavy hair false gently to the side like silk. The Highwayman and Bess's love is very pure. Tim, in my mind, looks like a mad man with the greasiest hair there can be. His eyes are always alert and being the stalking guy he is, always looking at Bess, his crush.
Speech is also a trait that explains a character. A quote that the Highwayman says that tells the reader something about him is, "One kiss, my bonny sweetheart, I’m after a prize to-night,But I shall be back with the yellow gold before the morning light." This tells the reader a lot about the Highwayman. For example, that quote tells us the he compliments his girlfriend. It also tells us that he is a robber.
Action is another way to tells us about a character too. For example, Bess shows and action by shooting herself for sacrifice to tell the Highwayman the redcoats are here.
In conclusion, I like this story because it is a mixture of a lot of my favorite genres in one. I personally love the story it tells us. I recommend this to anyone and I surely will love to read The Highwayman again.
December 18, 2014
The poet has given an amazingly vivid picture of all the events occurring during that highwayman absence... All the little details of his love, Bess, waiting and being scared for his safety, shooting herself to warn her lover and that tragic end for both...
If not for the last lines of this poem I would have been quite upset with that painful love story. I do believe that in certain winter nights, his ghost still rides down the highway to meet Bess.
I do not believe in tragic love stories... I always imagine a sweet ending that would reform the story line back to that happy ending, I was happy that this one had that clue on its own without me having to spend my night imagining a good completion of the story. =)
Amazing piece of poetry.
If not for the last lines of this poem I would have been quite upset with that painful love story. I do believe that in certain winter nights, his ghost still rides down the highway to meet Bess.
I do not believe in tragic love stories... I always imagine a sweet ending that would reform the story line back to that happy ending, I was happy that this one had that clue on its own without me having to spend my night imagining a good completion of the story. =)
Amazing piece of poetry.
February 3, 2022
And still of a winter’s night, they say, when the wind is in the trees,
When the moon is a ghostly galleon tossed upon cloudy seas,
When the road is a ribbon of moonlight over the purple moor,
A highwayman comes riding—
Riding—riding—
A highwayman comes riding, up to the old inn-door.
Another of my all-time favorite poems which I revisit often (so often that I have most of it memorized).
It is dreamy, haunting, tragic, atmospheric, lyrical, and captivating. It gives me shivers every time. Once again (as with Lady of Shalott) I highly recommend listening to Loreena McKennitt's musical rendition of it.
When the moon is a ghostly galleon tossed upon cloudy seas,
When the road is a ribbon of moonlight over the purple moor,
A highwayman comes riding—
Riding—riding—
A highwayman comes riding, up to the old inn-door.
Another of my all-time favorite poems which I revisit often (so often that I have most of it memorized).
It is dreamy, haunting, tragic, atmospheric, lyrical, and captivating. It gives me shivers every time. Once again (as with Lady of Shalott) I highly recommend listening to Loreena McKennitt's musical rendition of it.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 337 reviews