Falconry: And Other Poems [Paperback]

John William Houghton (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 1, 2003

Houghton's verse has been described as "a seamless modernization of Robert Frost." The characters of these poems show us glimpses of a spiritual world hidden, not in the forest paths and stone fences of New England, but in the equally rugged landscape of human relationships. The metrical discipline hidden within the seemingly natural speech of Houghton's characters reflects contemporary sensibilities in a transparent mirror of classical forms and structures. While a few of the poems have appeared previously in such publications as "The Living Church" and "The Classical Outlook," this is Houghton's first book-length collection of poetry -- a remarkable work of literature for the sophisticated reader of verse.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

John William Houghton grew up in Culver, Indiana (a town his family founded in 1844), and was graduated from Culver Military Academy in 1971. A prize-winning historian with degrees from Harvard, Yale, Indiana and Notre Dame universities, he has taught English and Religious Studies, served as a school chaplain, and contributed to both "Tolkien the Medievalist" and "The Harper Collins Encyclopedia of Catholicism." He is now an Episcopal minister.

Product Details

• Paperback: 104 pages
• Publisher: UNLIMITED PUBLISHING LLC (December 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1588320928
• ISBN-13: 978-1588320926
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.1 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #6,149,572 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Falconry: A Classical Reading Experience!, August 18, 2004

By 

Penny Lynn Dunn "Editor Tacenda" (Port Angeles WA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Falconry: And Other Poems (Paperback)

"Falconry" comes highly recommended, due to the fact that it is rare, indeed, to find a collection of poems that are so finely penned, so elegantly thought out. The photos by William Ames Bascom are an added plus!
Meter is the backbone of finely crafted sonnets, and Houghton's grasp of cadence, rhythm, strophe, and tone is masterful and confident. He is obviously a pedantic poet-artist, and is very aware of the stresses in the syllabic feet in his lines. His use of syncopated rhythm, and lyrical metaphor, combine to make poetry that is reminescent of the classicists. Clearly, Houghton is familiar with the workings behind 'the poem', to put it simply--'poetics'.
The words from John William Houghton flow like a stream, rise up and connect the soul to the stars with a yearning for the lovely, the enlightened, the lucid. This reviewer can offer no "stock response" to the likes of the poetry from the man who wrote "Falconry and other poems." Get this book!