The Strength of Poetry: Oxford Lectures

by James Fenton

Sharp-eyed critiques and appreciations of the essential poets of our time. James Fenton is unique among contemporary writers in having achieved equal distinction as a poet and -- in his reportage and criticism -- as a master of trenchant prose. What is more, he has shown himself a devoted critic of both American and British modern poetry, an explainer of each tradition to the other and to itself. In these lectures, delivered at Oxford (where he succeeded Seamus Heaney as Professor of Poetry from 1994 to 1999), Fenton moves easily from Philip Larkin's laments for the British Empire, to Heaney's uneasy rebellion against it, to Robert Frost's celebrations of American conquest; from W. H. Auden on Shakespeare's homoeroticism to the vexed "feminism" of Elizabeth Bishop; from Wilfred Owen's juvenilia to Marianne Moore's youthful agitation for women's suffrage.In these lectures -- many of which appeared in The New York Review of Books -- Fenton makes sense of the last century in poetry, and explores its antecedents and its legacies, with the lucidity, wit, and gusto that have made his criticism famous.

Genres: Poetry, Literary Criticism, Nonfiction

272 pages, Paperback

First published April 4, 2001

About the author

James Fenton was born in Lincoln in 1949 and educated at Magdalen College, Oxford where he won the Newdigate Prize for poetry. He has worked as political journalist, drama critic, book reviewer, war correspondent, foreign correspondent and columnist. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature and was Oxford Professor of Poetry for the period 1994-99. In 2007, Fenton was awarded the Queen's Gold Medal for Poetry.

Reviews

[عبداللطيف بن يوسف · Rating 2 out of 5]

كتاب لطيف ربما يكون الفصل الأول هو الأجمل حين تكلم عن مايكل أنجلو، الكتاب يبحث في شعراء بريطانيين معاصرين، وشخصياً تعرفت على أسماء كثيرة، ووقفت على مقاطع شعرية تستحق الوقوف.. لكن كانت توقعاتي عن الكتاب أكبر مما هو عليه حقاً.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Demystifying.

[Toby · Rating 3 out of 5]

This collection of James Fenton's lectures as the Oxford Professor of Poetry mostly meet the criterion that any good lecture on a specialist subject should - namely that it is worth hearing and reading even if you come to it as a non-specialist. Thus Fenton is able to expand the seemingly narrow title of his lecture eg. "Wilfred Owen's Juvenalia" into a more lengthy discussion of when maturity happens, if it happens, and what we really mean by juvenilia. Likewise a lecture on Dryden's bombastic poetry develops into a wider discussion of poetry and nationhood.

That being said, inevitably the poets that you know about are the ones that you will glean most from in these lectures. I can nod my head knowledgeably when it comes to Larkin. I certainly can't when it comes to Marilyn Moore. And despite three lectures on W.H. Auden, his skill as a poet remains as much hidden from me as ever it did (though I found the first of the lectures, on homosexuality and what is meant by it in different eras, an illuminating one).

In summary. Good throughout, the of more interest in parts.

[John Fredrickson · Rating 2 out of 5]

The essays in this book address numerous recent poets, including Larkin, Bishop, Moore, and Auden. I came to this book thinking that these essays could be good introductions to some aspect of each of these poets. Two of the essays involve Auden and his relationship to Shakespeare's sonnets, which have long been fascinating to me.

Unfortunately, I can only believe these essays are intended for readers who already have considerable knowledge of, and appreciation for, the poets considered and wish to explore them more deeply. The essays were often obscure to the point that I could not figure out the intent of the offered text. The Auden relationship to Shakespeare's sonnets are a case in point: the author seemed content to riff on issues of Auden's difficulty in his gay relationships, but without any clear focus that I could discern.

[Dan Graser · Rating 5 out of 5]

James Fenton is not only one of the finest poets of the English language (my personal favorite) but, as he displays throughout this series of lectures, a great teacher and analyst of poetry and poets. Discussing familiar figures like Larkin while also introducing and examining the significance of lesser known poets like Marianne Moore, he displays a ready wit and clear prose. The highlight of this volume is his extended examination of Auden, a poet with which Fenton himself is constantly compared i very favorable terms. Fans of any of the poets mentioned would do themselves a great service to check this out!

[Kayla · Rating 4 out of 5]

James Fenton is an English poet who was a professor of poetry at Oxford. These lectures filled in a few gaps on famous poets, Bishop, Larkin, Shakespeare, and Auden: and exposed me to some I was less familiar with; Moore, Owen, and Dryden. He writes with humor and compassion. A lovely read.

[Alex Liebetrau · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great lectures that helped me think abt and improve my own poetry. Gave me some new poets to check out as well

[Eli · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have finished this book and feel more emboldened by it. Poetry has always been a side-line interest. Reading a little bit of Rilke here, pick up some Ezra Pound and put it right back down.

However, Fenton's series of essays are each brilliant boulioun cubes of insight that led me to discover a lot of poets that I didn't know, (Wilfred Owen and Marianne Moore) and also provided insight to the genius of several poets whom I never cared for, (Elizabeth Bishop).

For people who have, like me, a dim grasp on the world of verse this is a great read that that contains not only a great deal of discourse but a fair amount of wit as well

[Lee]

These lectures are evidence of the author's understanding of the life works of the poets included. It is most enlightening and broadened the scope of my understanding of the poets covered by the lectures. Theere are 12 poets included, most of them British but relating to many other American poets as well. All are 20th century poets and all are well known. I learned more from these lectures than I have found in almost any books on poetry.

[عبلة جابر · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good critique book