The New Oxford Book Of English Verse

by Helen Gardner
The New Oxford Book Of English Verse cover
Good Books rating 3.62
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  • ID: 4131
  • Added: 2025-10-21
  • Updated: 2025-10-21
  • Reviews: 4
Reviews
thegreatestbooks.org · Unknown · 2025-10-21
excellent 4.50

The New Oxford Book of English Verse is a comprehensive collection that spans centuries of English poetry, offering a rich tapestry of voices and styles. It's a valuable resource for anyone interested in the evolution of English verse, though some may find the sheer volume overwhelming.

This anthology is a treasure trove for poetry enthusiasts, featuring works from some of the most celebrated poets in the English language. The selection is diverse, covering a wide range of periods and movements, which makes it an excellent tool for understanding the development of English verse. However, the sheer number of poems included might be daunting for casual readers, and the lack of a clear thematic organization could make it less accessible for those looking for a more curated experience. Overall, it's a fantastic resource for serious students of poetry, but it may not be the best choice for those seeking a more introductory or thematically focused collection.

Quick quotes

    The New Oxford Book of English Verse is a comprehensive collection that spans centuries of English poetry.

    It's a valuable resource for anyone interested in the evolution of English verse, though some may find the sheer volume overwhelming.

    The selection is diverse, covering a wide range of periods and movements, which makes it an excellent tool for understanding the development of English verse.

argumentativeoldgit.wordpress.com · Unknown · 2025-10-21
critical 2.00

The reviewer finds Foucault's 'Discipline and Punish' well-written and rhetorically persuasive but ultimately flawed and harmful. They argue that Foucault's critique of modern imprisonment, while insightful, is hypocritical and fails to address the practical consequences of his proposals.

The reviewer begins by acknowledging the vivid and engaging writing style of Foucault's 'Discipline and Punish'. The book's central thesis, which contrasts pre-modern and modern penal systems, is found to be thought-provoking. However, the reviewer takes issue with several aspects of Foucault's argument. They feel that Foucault's expectation for readers to recoil at pre-modern punishments contradicts his claim that modern methods are not more humane. Additionally, the reviewer points out that Foucault does not explain why different paradigms of punishment emerge or change over time. Lastly, the reviewer criticizes Foucault's leftist, anti-institutional stance as impractical and potentially harmful, leading to worse outcomes for society. Despite its persuasive rhetoric, the reviewer concludes that the book is deeply flawed and promotes dangerous ideas.

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    Foucault is making an implicit political point against modern imprisonment: under a façade of greater humaneness, ‘reason’ and scientific trappings there hides raw power that is allowed to be exerted in a new, more efficient form, against criminals.

    Foucault’s thesis assumes the existence of a series of paradigms that change over time, but he never makes an attempt at explaining either why this paradigms appear in the first place and/or under which circumstances they change.

    It is well written and rhetorically persuasive; it is also deeply wrong, and in many ways, an intellectual poison that leads to hare-brained false ideas and beliefs and to noxious practices that create worse outcomes for everybody.

betterworldbooks.com · Unknown · 2025-10-21
thought-provoking 3.50

The book is a well-researched and intelligent analysis of the evolution of punishment and discipline from medieval to modern times, though some sections may be challenging to understand. It raises important questions about the role of prisons and the 'Discipline State' in society, but it lacks practical solutions.

The book is a comprehensive examination of the history and philosophy of punishment and discipline, with a focus on the transition from public executions to modern prisons. The author, Michel Foucault, presents a well-researched and thought-provoking analysis, though some sections may be difficult to grasp for those not well-versed in philosophical discourse. The book raises important questions about the role of prisons and the 'Discipline State' in society, and the potential for these institutions to normalize and control behavior. However, the author does not offer practical solutions to the issues he raises, leaving the reader to grapple with these questions on their own. Overall, the book is a valuable contribution to the field of philosophy and criminology, but it may not be accessible to all readers.

Quick quotes

    The famous chapter on Bentham’s _Panopticon_, the ideal surveillance architecture that involves an authority in a central tower looking through darkened windows at a ring of cells — the prisoners know they _can_ be seen at all times, but they never know the precise moment in which they are.

    The public execution was the logical culmination of a procedure governed by the Inquisition. The practice of placing individuals under ‘observation’ is a natural extension of a justice imbued with disciplinary methods and examination procedures.

    Is it surprising that the cellular prison, with its regular chronologies, forced labour, its authorities of surveillance and registration, its experts in normality, who continue and multiply the functions of the judge, should have become the modern instrument of penality?

tapatalk.com · Unknown · 2025-01-14
excellent 4.50

The New Oxford Book Of English Verse is a comprehensive collection that spans from 1250 to 1950, offering a rich tapestry of English poetry. It is praised for its historical scope and the diversity of voices it includes, making it a valuable resource for literature enthusiasts.

The New Oxford Book Of English Verse is a monumental collection that captures the evolution of English poetry over seven centuries. From medieval works to early 20th-century pieces, the anthology provides a broad and inclusive selection of poems that reflect the changing cultural and literary landscapes. Readers appreciate the depth and variety of the collection, which includes both well-known and lesser-known poets. The book is not just a historical record but also a testament to the enduring power of poetry. It is a must-have for anyone interested in the rich tradition of English verse.

Quick quotes

    The New Oxford Book Of English Verse is a comprehensive collection that spans from 1250 to 1950, offering a rich tapestry of English poetry.

    It is praised for its historical scope and the diversity of voices it includes, making it a valuable resource for literature enthusiasts.

    The anthology provides a broad and inclusive selection of poems that reflect the changing cultural and literary landscapes.

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