A Little Book of Western Verse

by Eugene Field

This book was converted from its physical edition to the digital format by a community of volunteers. You may find it for free on the web. Purchase of the Kindle edition includes wireless delivery.

Genres: Poetry, Classics

202 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1889

Reviews

[Peggy Haufle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was only familiar with Wynken, Blyken and Nod which I discovered is really "Dutch Lullaby". Eugene Field used a dialect which I suppose he felt was "western" which was very difficult to figure out at times. I found it distracting in most of the poems he wrote with it. I did enjoy "Our Lady of the Mine" which shows everyone, even miners, can appreciate art. Other surprises include a rewrite of the 23rd Psalm, numerous lullabies and the numerous stories told in his poems. "The Little Peach" is about a small emerald peach eaten by 2 siblings. I enjoyed the many stories that he told. Some were just too difficult with the dialect and who is Horace other than a character in many of the poems. Not impressed with him.

[Peter Pactor · Rating 3 out of 5]

I greatly enjoy the poetry of Eugene Field, and I have since before I could read. Two of my favorite poems from my youth are in the volume: "Little Boy Blue" and "Dutch Lullaby" (better known as "Wynken, Blynken and Nod"). There are a few poems new to me that I enjoyed greatly; however, his poetic translations of some of Horace's poems and some poems of those in (for me) strange dialect left me flat.

Even though this book was published in 1892, three years before Field's death, the copyright was in his wife's name, and it appeared to me to be some of his earlier works for they lack the humor and the warmth of his poems of childhood.

Nevertheless, for Field's fans, "A Little Book of Western Verse" is worth the read; especially, for the too few gems that are in it.