31 of 32 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Wonderful Collection of His Poetry, October 17, 2002
This review is from: Gerard Manley Hopkins: The Major Works (Oxford World's Classics) (Paperback)
Oxford University Press has done it again! This book is an absolutely wonderful compilation of Gerard Manley Hopkins' poetry, letters, and prose. With all of his poems (including fragments of poems), as well as letters and spiritual writings related to his conversion and his joining of the Jesuit order, this book not only gives the reader a wonderful selection of his work, but also an interesting insight into the life of Fr. Gerard Manley Hopkins. I would recommend this master of sprung verse to all.
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24 of 26 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Ah! Bright Wings, August 15, 2006
This review is from: Gerard Manley Hopkins: The Major Works (Oxford World's Classics) (Paperback)
A great many people would like to read poetry, even recite some, but don't know where to start. Start here. Why? Hopkins is both easy to read and a unique voice. His "sprung rythm" results in a beat running all through the poem that has something in common with rock music and something else in common with beat poetry and something in common with rap. In short, it's poetry to be read out loud, exulting in the words and the wordplay.
Hopkins is too good to be hidden away in dusty tomes for English majors to drag out once in their careers. One of the early editors of the Oxford collection was Charles Williams, a fellow Inkling and friend of C.S. Lewis. His goal was to make Hopkins available to more readers, and later editors seem to have echoed this goal.
Almost everyone who reads him gets captivated by a favorite poem. Mine is "God's Grandeur", which begins: "The world is charged with the grandeur of God; it will fan out like shining from shook foil." I don't think "fan" is the right word here; I don't have the book handy and I'm reciting from memory. But that's my point; these are poems that bring back the joy of quoting a few lines here and there. Another great poem is "The Kingfisher". Then there is "The Binsey Poplars".
Another reason to dip into Hopkins is that he is so post-modern. He wrestled with the dark night of the soul, the topic of practically all contemporary alt-rock. His own journey led him to join a monastery and give up writing poetry, after which he was deeply sad. Wisely, his insightful director allowed and encouraged him to return to his calling, which in following he produced these amazing poems. This Oxford opens the door to what for many will be a new and delightful world, and if anyone can re-enchant poetry for our generation, it's Hopkins.
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15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
good selection, October 12, 2005
This review is from: Gerard Manley Hopkins: The Major Works (Oxford World's Classics) (Paperback)
This is a good, generous selection of Hopkins poetry and letters. I picked it up because I am intrigued by Hopkins innovations in poetry, and by the influence of his religous vocation. I wanted to compare him to Donne and other similar poets.
A big volume for the money, it starts with a good introduction. The only reason to downgrade it from a five-star value is that it is a paperback printed on what feels like a pulpy paper, and I wonder how the pages will withstand yellowing and how the binding will hold up if the book sees much use.
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