World Poetry: An Anthology of Verse from Antiquity to Our Time

by Athena Dixon

Book Overview

This long-awaited, indispensable volume contains more than 1600 poems drawn from dozens of languages and cultures, and spans a period of more than 4000 years from ancient Sumer and Egypt to the late twentieth century. World Poetry encompasses the many worlds of poetry, poetry of all styles, of all eras, of all tongues: from the ancient epic of Gilgamesh and the Pharaoh Akhnaten's "Hymn to the Sun" to the haiku of Basho and the dazzling imagery of...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0393041301
• ISBN13: 9780393041309
• Release Date: November 2000
• Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company
• Length: 1360 Pages
• Weight: 4.00 lbs.
• Dimensions: 2.5" x 6.5" x 9.5"

Customer Reviews

an awesome accomplishment

This is an astonishing volume packed with beautiful poems. I honestly cannot think of a better gift for poetry lovers (or, indeed, plain lovers or anyone else...). Akkadian poetry, Nazim Hikmet, Tagore.... almost every single poet that I love is here. How did the editors manage do it???

A honey of an anthology

This is the best,most readable,comprehensive anthology of its type I have discovered. The selections are great with fine translations.The single column typography is very appealing.It is a hefty tome,over 1300 pages,so that I need a lecturn at times.The entries are chronological so that Chinese Poetry is in various periods rather than being all together.I wish I could read these poems in the original languages,but since I cannot,this volume will do nicely.Savor the poems, give a copy to a sensitive,dear friend.Well worth the price,new or used.

A Herculean Task

Putting together an anthology of poetry written in English is all fineand good.... An anthology of world poetry, on the other hand, is a monumental task. ....Washburn and Major have put together one of the best anthologies I have found. Yes, the book is big...and yet we all find that one favorite poem that wasn't included. Objectively speaking, the breadth is admirable, the translations consistantly excellent, and the organization logical. A person only needs one anthology of world poetry, and this is the best one I know of. END

Something for everyone-very passionate

I have bought several copies of this book to give to people who mean something to me. When I share a poem from this work I am often questioned about "where did you find that"? The range is enormous and the selection of latin poetry in particular is just great. (Even the translation versions are selected carefully) The authors had a great sense of passion, humor and sensuality in their selections. I don't care if someone else thinks their favorite poem is missing...If I had just one book of poetry to keep this would be it.

A compelling poetical garland

A startlingly accomplished book for readers who care for poetry; more, it may induce a previously unsuspected love of poetry for those willing to browse its pages. I got lost in the world it creates. The extent of the editors' encyclopedic familiarity with the universal range of poetic accomplishment is not a small miracle; sensitivity to the quality of each individual translation is equally miraculous. World Poetry" is rarely equalled in breadth and beauty of execution and design, and goes far beyond what Mark van Doren may have wished to create when he edited his "World Treasury..." 70 years ago. Bruce Whitham (baw@mci2000.com) New York