The Penguin Book of Irish Verse

by Brendan Kennelly (Editor)

This anthology of verse illustrates the origins and development of the Irish poetic tradition. From the 17th century to the present day, the poetry of Ireland is testimony to the power of the imagination to withstand systematic oppression and the forces of history. In this selection Brendan Kennelly has chosen to emphasize the fusion of Irish and Anglo-Irish poetry, with the beauty of many Gaelic poems rendered into eloquent English by Frank O'Connor. The whole spectrum of Irish verse is covered, with anonymous and lesser-known poems standing alongside those by such famous artists as Swift, Goldsmith, Yeats and, more recently, Beckett, MacNeice, Heaney and Muldoon.

Genres: Poetry, Ireland, Irish Literature

428 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1970

About the author

Timothy Brendan Kennelly, usually known as Brendan Kennelly, was an Irish poet and novelist. He was Professor of Modern Literature at Trinity College Dublin until 2005. Following his retirement he was a Professor Emeritus at Trinity College.

Reviews

[Charlotte]

In the other book I'm reading right now, John Berger's Portraits, he talks about artists who can't get beyond a local and particular view. I was struck by his observation because it was my feeling reading much of this collection of Irish verse, starting about as far back as there are words, up until the near-present day. Maybe there is something about being a people on an island, continually suppressed by more a more powerful enemy, that makes some of the work insular, focused on heroes and legends, and facing always inward. I almost shouted for joy when I read a poem by Louis MacNeice: "Valediction," which is all about departure, and a brilliant and beautiful poem "The Second Voyage," by Eilean ni Chuilleanain, recasting the journeys of Odysseus, out on the water, instead of on land. I got a breath of air with these. But MacNeice is buried in Ireland, anyway.

Much of the work is great, although the selections in this book have me doubting Yeats!

[James Dempsey]

A neat collection. Much charming verse to be found.

[Jennifer Dawn]

beautiful and smart collection of poetry

[Douglas Gates]

Good.

[Patrick]

Way too many of the poets here are represented by a single specimen, making it impossible to gain any sense of their positions.

[Janet]

Selected poems from the 7th century to the present - some well-known favourites, alongside others which are bound to become favourites.

[BookLovingLady (deceased Jan. 25, 2023...)]

I never read my poetry books from cover to cover, I just keep picking out bits and pieces... It's an ongoing process.

[Barbara]

unsurpassable