The sonnet is one of the more difficult-to-write forms of poetry, with very strict rules on rhyming and lines, and that makes Shakespeare's collection of sonnets all the more impressive. Shakespeare sprinkled his various plays with poetry and songs, but there is something of a different flavor to these works.

Titleless, identified only by numbers, these poems have vivid metaphors and imagery ("let not winter's ragged hand deface," "gold candles fix'd in heaven's air"). The tone of the poetry varies from one sonnet to the next; sometimes it focuses on old age, to love that "looks upon tempests and is not shaken," and simple expressions that can't really be interpreted any other way. Some of it is pretty well-known ("Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?/Thou art more lovely and more temperate") but most of them you won't have seen before.

Even if you're not normally a fan of poetry, the delicate touch of Shakespeare's words is worth checking into. Fantastic.

This edition of the sonnets is one of the most important and the description on Amazon is misleading - It is actually both volumes 24 and 25 bound together so you get the complete set It's hard to find this book so it is a great find in this version

Shakespeare's amazing Sonnets are compiled here in this wonderful volume, a great addition to anyone's bookshelf. If you love Shakespeare, then this is a must-have book.

This is a wonderfully thorough, insightful, and orchestrated collection of critical essays on America's greatest playwright and his work. I found Stephen Marino's piece to be the most fascinating; a very pleasurable read!

somtimes I like to have an interesting insight to a super book. the superiority of this book was displayed in superflous title. superman himself could not have wtitten a better such a superb book. I read it over supper.

You can imagine my surprise to find that an article I penned several years ago was included in the most estemmed Harold Bloom's compendium of "Hispanic Literature." I must admit, I was flattered that one of my articles had been included in a volume edited by one of American literature's most esteemed critics. But I was also a bit miffed that no one had bothered to ask me if I wanted my article included in this anthology. Truth be told, I don't even know who owns the copyright to my work; but I do know that someone was paid by Bloom's publisher to include my article, and Bloom will pick up a royalty or two from the anthology. Me, I get squat. But, that's the name of the game and we are forced to play it in the name of tenure, promotion, blah, blah, blah. But this is not really about the $. It's about not having a say on where one's intellectual property comes to rest. Had I had a choice in this matter, I politely would have declined the invitation for reasons that are far too complex--too enmeshed in the sticky goo of representation, power relations, etc. On the bright side, my work is flanked by the literary and cultural criticism of companeros y companeras whom I respect for their commitment to writing about Hispanic writers long before it was chic to do so; long before mainstream presses would bother to give us a second glance; long before mainstream critics would acknowledge that we deserved to occupy an office in the same building as they. That said, dear potential customers, do I recommend this book? Absolutely. In it Professor Bloom has gathered the salt of, if not of the earth, then certainly of Chicana/o literary criticism.

I think that this is a useful beginners guide of sorts, but I'm afraid Harold Bloom is a eurocentric patriarchal worshipper of white male writers, to the detriment of his critical judgement. The most important work being written today is by women and minorities, while white males continue to pretend that their writing is somehow both representative of everyone and 'better' than everyone else's. What a joke. What we don't need is another book edited by heterosexist white males like Harold Bloom.

Absorbing Perfections is the outstanding work on Kabbalah of this generation. It is a serious ( and heavy) academic work that breaks new ground and adds important dimensions to the work of previous scholars such Scholem and Shatz.
Whereas other popular works on Kabbalah lack the serious historical perspectives and mastery of the original texts Moshe Idel is unique. There is no one like him writing about Kabbalah in the Western World today.
If Scholem was too Germanic, detached and disregarding of the experiences and spiritual achievements of Kabbalah, Idel adds all these dimensions to the solid academic foundations.
This book is a hard read, its style is not easy, but if anyone wants a serious understanding of Kabbalah rather than a comic book version, this has to be the book to read.

Harold Bloom's Agatha Christie blends biography with a literary coverage of Christie's extensive mystery works. From her poetry and short stories to a posthumous autobiography, Christie produced far more than just the mystery genre: this outlines her works and provides essays by many notable literary analysts.

Some facts about Harold Bloom. He taught himself to read English (his family spoke Yiddish at home) at the age of 3 or 4. He has a photographic memory for text, and has more or less the whole canon of English poetry committed to memory.

Now granted, these facts don't guarantee genius by themselves, but Bloom has something extra to add to those other traits--an imaginative hunger and an enormous love for poetry and what it can do for the individual, sensitive reader.

Admittedly, this analysis of Blake owes quite a bit to Northrop Frye's "Fearful Symmetry," but there are many new insights that make this book worth much more than its price. Whatever one may think about Bloom's later literary analyses, his early work has, undeniably, the stamp of genius.

One of the most extraordinary memoirs that we had the pleasure to read is John Walsh: tears of Rage, co-written by Susan Schindehette. This memoir begins with John Walsh convincing the reader how "emotionaly strong" he is. He does this by mentioning experiences that he had to deal with in the past. Although these experiences were heart breaking, John handled the situation and got the job done. John Walsh had to deal with many morrible experiences in his life, but it only made him stronger in what he could deal with.
John Walsh goes into the details about his son, Adam, who was kidnapped in 1981 at a local Sears store by an unknown assailant. In the memoir Mr. Walsh tells his readers all the things the police and him went through trying to locate his son. Mr. Walsh also worked on all cases that may have anyhting to do with his sons kidnapping. But in the end he couldnt do anything to save his son. He thought his neighborhood was safe so he couldn't understand how something like this could happen.
One of the main things that Walsh wanted to get across to his readers is that there is no where safe anymore. That everyone has to watch out and try to stop these horrible acts from happening to our loved ones.
Tears of Rage ended with a great and powerful conclusion. The conclusion is about how John deals with his son's death, and what he does about the loss. Mr. Walsh also said that he would devote all his time to the public from now on, he is doing this with his show, America's Most Wanted. The show tells the public about unsolved crimes by getting the faces of the criminals out to the public so they can identify them.
We rated this memoir a 4 star, and the reason for this is because it is a great read that talks about life and how to handle all the problems that are envolved with it. So, if you want an awesome read, pick up John Walsh: Tears of Rage, you won't regret it.

An amazing book that gives a raw, honest account of a man's struggle to solve the mystery of his son's death, and then to institute measures to facilitate others' similar searches. Walsh's narrative is painful to read, yet essential to communicate the depths of his feelings and to explain the intensity behind his search and chosen life's mission. He is driven beyond words, and has done an incredible amount of work throughout the country for missing persons and abducted children, not the least of which is the program he is know for creating (America's Most Wanted).

This book is shocking in its exposure of the police incompetence and lack of statutory law Walsh faced throughout his quest, and in its description of the lengths he had to go to in order to get assistance and, ultimately, (some) answers. A salient point is that Walsh discovered (and describes in the book) a wealth of legislation and safety measures afforded to criminals, yet an appalling lack of the same for victims and their families. Walsh took it upon himself to make things happen for the sake of victims, including helping to enact legislation regarding missing children, assisting with the creation of nationwide databases of missing persons and unidentified corpses, and instituting the dissemination of missing kids' images (like the faces seen on the back of milk cartons). Walsh continues to run himself ragged pursuing his life's work of helping missing children and their families, seemingly at the cost of everything else.

In addition to the telling of an incredible tale, Walsh is an exciting, and surprisingly witty, narrator that keeps the reader entertained amidst the recounting of tragedy. He is a true hero in every sense of the word. Simply put, without people like John Walsh, change for the better is impossible; anyone with kids should be grateful that he was able to turn his bitter tragedy into something so positive.

Every parent should read this book. The author makes us very aware of the scumbag by-products of abuse and neglect that walk this earth in search of innocent children to exploit for their own selfish pleasure. Instead of letting this horrible tragedy break them, John and Reve Walsh dragged themselves up from the absolute pits of their terrible nightmare to change the priorities of a foolish country that cares more about stolen cars than stolen kids. It is also gratifying to know that John Walsh joined forces with the incredible genius of ex-FBI special agent Robert Ressler (author: Whoever Fights Monsters). John Walsh is responsible for bringing to our attention that these pedophiles and lunatics are everywhere and must be stopped. THIS COULD HAPPEN TO ANYONE'S CHILD!! This book is emotionally hard to read. Your heart will go out to these two people for their grief and we can all be thankful that they cared enought to turn their tragedy around to help others.

Literature scholars universally recognize Eliot's "Waste Land" as one of the most influential poems of the 20th century. The poem draws on a wealth of images, everything from classics of Western literature to Tarot cards, from anthropology to Eastern sacred texts. The title refers to the barren land of the Fisher King in Arthurian legend; both the king and the land eventually find redemption through the Holy Grail. Through a masterful use of language and symbols, Eliot brilliantly portrays the problem of meaning in the modern world --- and the way to deeper meaning!

Unfortunately, many of Eliot's references are arcane, and not easy for the lay reader to pursue. For example, few modern readers happen to have a copy of Webster's play "White Devil" or excerpts from Shackleton's account of the Antarctic expedition readily available on their shelves. Hence, the virtue of this particular edition: in addition to Eliot's original poem and original notes, this book includes the relevant passages from every single work Eliot quotes in the "Wasteland", all translated into English. For the first time I have seen in print, this book allows the reader to understand this magnificent poem in light of the full scope of its allusions. A triumphant achievement!

eliot is the greatest poet of the 20th century. His work has done more to usher in the myriad of styles that have come after his than any other writer to date. he is Modern poetry and the wasteland is the benchmark upon which all others should be judged. his blending of style and concept are stunning- his words and word choice amazing- that one man could craft such greatness and still go on to write more great works is simply amazing. this poem requires work- don't know about a guide but at least dedication to intelect and insight. as pound said nothing good comes easily and this poems is the best and should be worked at and understood because with understanding and appreciation of this great work comes an insight into the minds and mindset of many of the 20th centuries great writers and thinkers.

Simply put, THE WASTE LAND is one of the strangest, most complicated, and interesting poems ever written. Try reading an unannotated version of the poem and you will see why even TS Eliot scholars need a little help with some of the images and literary references Eliot uses. This NORTON CRITICAL EDITION of THE WASTE LAND is an essential book for any Eliot fan, new or old. It provides you with practically every single piece of literature, history, and music that inspired Eliot to write his manifesto of the Lost Generation. If you have any questions concerning THE WASTE LAND, this is the book you need...this is the book you want. Buy it and realize how well-read you are not.

I own several editions of the so called "Complete Poetry" editions of Blake. Well, this one just stands out on his own. Although it would have been nicer if it had included more images (it includes only 4 monochromes) I must admit that this book's achivements are its complementary notes and commentaries. Erdman is really an amazing researcher and he has helped me a lot in understanding Blake's universe. Harold Bloom does his share when commenting most of the larger poems, and to comment Jerusalem or Milton is almost as commenting Miltons' "Padarise Lost" or even the Bible. They both deliver a great deal of insight on Blake's poetry, and I'm thankful for that. I have been a fan of Blake's poetry for almost 5 years now, and I've only started to understand his larger prophetic poems.

If you're new to Blake you may not need this kind of book... Even if you are a Blake fan. Maybe Alicia Ostriker's "The Complete Poems" (ISBN 0-14-042215-3) can give you a lighter side of Blake. As a matter of fact, what I liked so much about Alicia's edition is that it has an index of proper names, so If you don't know who (or what) The Four Zoas stand for, maybe you should consider buying her book.

If you are looking for Blake's works of art, then you must get your hands on any of the wonderful DOVER editions published... They are ... and brilliantly printed.

Anyway, if you are new... Welcome.
If you are an oldie... GET THIS BOOK! or even better GET THE MANUSCRIPT FACSIMILE!

This book is marvelous! With every poem and prose work done by Blake, including letters, commentary, and textual notes, this is ~the~ book for all Blake fans. This book even shows the stages of Blake's writing in the textual notes, such as the various versions of his poems. Highly recommended!

There's not much more I can say after reading the reviews below, except to agree that this is _the_ book to own if you're wanting to add William Blake to your library.

This is a large book, clocking in at around nine hundred pages. Within you'll find all the great poetry that makes Blake, well, Blake. The "Songs of Innocence and Experience" are truly wonderful, as is "The Marriage of Heaven and Hell".

Lots to read here beyond than the known works, including miscellaneous poems, songs and verses and sataric verses and epigrams, even letters that Blake himself wrote.

The book is neatly organized and easy to navigate, making the section you're looking for a snap to find. At the back of the book are sections with textual notes (a small "t" is marked throughout Blake's works), and commentary (a small "c"), also marked. Invaluable resources to help understand and navigate the complexity of Blake's poems and prose. An index of titles and first lines is also included in the back.

All in all a wonderful collection for any Blake fan to own and for the curious to lose themselves in the majesty that is William Blake.

This is an incredible book, a collaboration, really, featuring reproductions of the wood engravings that were created by Gustave Dore in 1875, inspired by this epic poem by Samuel Coleridge. (the editorial reviews are confusing, because they describe books by different artists) There are 42 magnificent illustrations, on 9 x 12 pages no less, for just six bucks and change. You won't find a better bargain here.

I have to disagree with the bad rap this poem often gets. Sure, Coleridge's 4-3-4-3 meter is simple and easily imitable, but that does not change the fact that he used the meter masterfully, that his verse is beautiful and his imagery splendid (even without the woodcuts). The story is fairly simple, though its effect is somewhat chilling. Yes, I've even heard the Mariner compared to Popeye with a dead bird around his neck. But all joking aside, this is a beautiful poem.

On the surface, this may just seem to be a simple poem by an English Romantic. But there is so much more. There is a lesson to be learned, one of respect for God's creatures and for all of creation. This is certainly a Romantic point of view, and Coleridge puts it forth very nicely in this poem.

This is a great beginning poem for novices of poetry, for beginners and for people who dislike poetry if it doesn't rhyme and have a definite rhythm. This is definitely Coleridge's best poem, one that everyone should be familiar with. This version with the woodcuts makes for a very attractive package--the illustrations add nicely to the poems overall effect.

And all the boards did shrink. Water, water, everywhere, nor any drop to drink." These famous lines, like the opening lines of Coleridge's Kubla Khan, are often quoted, but I sometimes wonder if the people who quote them have read this wonderful poem. The poem is full of mystery and horror, from the Mariner stopping the wedding guest, to the incident w/ the albatros, to the gambling of Death and Death-In-Life... I could go on and on. The language is so rich, and the poet's comments make the content more clear for anyone who becomes confused. The illustrations of this edition are beautiful and definately complement the text. This is a haunting poem that you will want to read again and again. If you have not read it before, do yourself a favor and find a copy.