The Poetical Works of Wordsworth

by William Wordsworth, Paul D. Sheats (Contributor)

This edition collects every piece of verse known to have been published by the poet himself, or of which he authorized the posthumous publication. Besides explanatory notes on the texts, the book includes the poet's own Notes to the 1849-50 edition and his Prefaces.

Genres: Poetry, Classics, British Literature, Literature, Fiction, English Literature, 19th Century

992 pages, Hardcover

Published January 1, 1982

About the author

William Wordsworth (1770-1850) was a major English romantic poet who, with Samuel Taylor Coleridge, helped launch the Romantic Age in English literature with their 1798 joint publication, Lyrical Ballads.

Wordsworth's masterpiece is generally considered to be The Prelude, an autobiographical poem of his early years, which the poet revised and expanded a number of times. The work was posthumously titled and published, prior to which, it was generally known as the poem "to Coleridge". Wordsworth was England's Poet Laureate from 1843 until his death in 1850.

Reviews

[Renée · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love nature, I love romanticism, I love poetry. This book was right up my alley.

[Matthew Barnett · Rating 4 out of 5]

William Wordsworth hasn’t really produced many, if any, of my favourite individual poems, but this might be one of my favourite collections. His accumulated works tell a story I really resonate with, for a few different reasons.

I’ve always had an affinity with the Lake District. As a kid, I didn’t even know who Wordsworth was when I accidentally came across his grave in Grasmere. So it felt strange reading his poem about standing over Robert Burns’ grave and how he felt, only to realise I’d once stood over Wordsworth’s and felt the same. Morbid serendipity.

I’m grateful Wordsworth tried to keep his language accessible rather than overly archaic. I resonate with the calm he finds in nature. It was also nice to see he made it over to the Isle of Man, writing about Douglas Bay and Tynwald.

Great for historical references and accounts. My knowledge of the Russian Napoleonic War stems almost entirely from Tolstoy, so it was interesting to see someone like Wordsworth evidence it in real time.

It’s a collection I don’t overanalyse. The poems and the places remind me of visiting my grandad’s favourite gingerbread shop after he passed; of uprooting and leaving; or of just sitting on a bench and looking at the sky. It’s a book worthy of a bedside table.

[Victoria & David Williams]

We have the 1973 Limited Editions Club edition.

[Tony · Rating 3 out of 5]

William Wordsworth’s poetry. Until now I have taken it in moderation throughout my life. Of his poetry; it is up to the reader to determine its value.

Of this book; wow! Too much for me. Page after page, line after line- although occasionally there was a brightness, even reading it aloud was brutal. I read a lot of poetry, of the masters, contemporaries, quirky and obtuse; when I completed this book a month later I was proud of myself. Not for having come to know the poetry of the man, in depth, but for having completed the reading at all.

I don’t want to discourage a poetry appreciant, or William Wordsworth aficionado, but let me suggest you purchase the book and read it in moderation over two or three years. I might have had a different view of it had I done that.

[M · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a tiny book published in Essex, England in 1969. the book is printed in Belgium. It includes a small bjiography,and passages from the Prelude and poems from lyrical Ballads. The collection is chosen and published by Geoffrey Parker, Wimbish Village,near Saffron Walden, Essex, England.

It includes,poems published after the 1800's, Sonnets, The Ode (Intimations of Immortality)--uniform with this volume is a pocket book of English verse.

Beautifully appointed poems,with words that flow and inspire imagery.

[Niklas Zenius Jespersen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lydkvaliteten af oplæsningen er desværre ikke vildt god, men af en ældre, ringere, kvalitet hvilket påvirker oplevelsen negativt og gør det sværere ordentligt at høre digtene. Det skal man tage forbehold for i anmeldelsen. Derudover virker digtene gode, men ikke fantastisk fængende og indsigtsfulde. Værd at læse/høre, bedre end gennemsnittet af digte, men ikke i top enden af poesien, lidt for trivielle og middelmådige. Har dog hørt en anden samling af hans digte tidligere i bedre lydkvalitet som jeg var ret glad for, så måske er det bare indspilningen der lægger en dæmper på begejstringen.

[Jim · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't read Wordsworth's complete works, just a few selected titles. Much of his verse can be read like prose. I don't mind poems that actually convey some coherent story. Wordsworth's "Michael" is a short story written as a poem. "Prelude" is his autobiography. I'll read more of his work if I ever have time.

[Nicole Miles · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm not much of a poetry person...but I enjoyed some of these. If nothing else, I took away that Wordsworth really loves nature.

Audiobook quality: Great performances, not so great audio at times...

[Mark · Rating 4 out of 5]

The opening poem in this collection, "We are Seven," is a favorite.

[Joe Kinslow]

It's on my continuously reading list. When the mood strikes I pick it and read a poem.

[gemmagia · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.75*

I really liked most of these but someone not so much