The Norton Anthology of Poetry

Yesterday, I visited the home of Edith Sitwell, the late poet who was born in Scarborough. Lining her living room was an army of large oak bookshelves, looking down on me, putting a shadow over me, being bigger than me and scaring me. Some people just have too many books. I myself have too many books. And too many books can mean too many big, nasty shelves. I'm beginning to sound like Carol Smiley. So, what better than a book that holds all books inside two covers? The Norton Anthology of Poetry is a delight, not just to read, but to place on a shelf, stand back and say....ahhh....and enough space for a plant! Here is a book ...  Read the complete review

I did not expect to come to appreciate this anthology. Upon arriving at my first lecture at university, we were told that this was an "essential text" for the first module. "Rush to the shops and buy one, and you MUST have one by the next lecture, or death will become of you and you will be destined to get a third!" Or, something like that. Now, you soon learn to take prases like "essential texts" with a HUGE pinch of salt. Especially when 2 out of 3 "essential" texts just so happen to have been penned by the lecturer pushing you to go and buy them! I have, so far, got though the first year having spent less than £30 on ...  Read the complete review