The New Oxford Book of English Light Verse

by Kingsley Amis (Editor)

An entertaining anthology of more than two hundred fifty verses by some eighty authors ranges from satire to nonsense and from Shakespeare to Philip Larkin

Genres: Poetry, Anthologies

384 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1978

About the author

Best known novels of British writer Sir Kingsley William Amis include Lucky Jim (1954) and The Old Devils (1986).

This English poet, critic, and teacher composed more than twenty-three collections, short stories, radio and television scripts, and books of social and literary criticism. He fathered Martin Amis.

William Robert Amis, a clerk of a mustard manufacturer, fathered him. He began his education at the city of London school, and went up to college of Saint John, Oxford, in April 1941 to read English; he met Philip Larkin and formed the most important friendship of his life. After only a year, the Army called him for service in July 1942. After serving as a lieutenant in the royal corps of signals in the Second World War, Amis returned to Oxford in October 1945 to complete his degree. He worked hard and got a first in English in 1947, and then decided to devote much of his time.

Pen names: [authorRobert Markham|553548] and William Bill Tanner

Reviews

[J Grimsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

A joy to read. Try " Say no Araminter, Say No"

[Ian Carmichael · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think my favourite is C S Lewis' "Evolutionary Hymn", but "The Motor Bus" is also rather good - if your Latin declensions are sound. Plenty to amuse.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

A large collection of amusing, ironic and satirical verse. Mostly very good and worth reading, though Amis's selection was a bit off when it came to himself and his contemporaries.