Haiku: Poetry Ancient and Modern [Hardcover]

Jackie Hardy (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 15, 2002

Originating in Japan, the haiku is a tiny poem that is usually only three lines long and contains a total of seventeen syllables. A universally appealing form of poetry, a haiku is able to capture an intensely human, and ordinary, moment and turn it into something extraordinary.

Haiku: Poetry Ancient & Modern is a gorgeously illustrated anthology of over 200 poems from 100 of the best haiku poets in America and around the world, as well as translations of the Japanese masters. The poems range in time from the seventeenth to the twentieth centuries, and follow the elemental themes of earth, air, fire, water, wood and metal. This exquisite collection of haiku is a joyful read for anyone, whether new to haiku or looking to expand their collection.

--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Jackie Hardy has been reading, writing and editing haiku for twenty years. She lives in Northumberland, England.

--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 256 pages
• Publisher: Tuttle Publishing (August 15, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0804834741
• ISBN-13: 978-0804834742
• Product Dimensions: 5.8 x 5.7 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,222,050 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A First-Rate Collection of Haiku, May 22, 2003

By 

Stephen Holland (Greenbelt, Maryland United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Haiku: Poetry Ancient and Modern (Hardcover)

This books starts with an essay on the haiku form that briefly explores the history and consruction of haiku. The essay is short and avoids being too technical or pompous: a problem that some poets have when writing about poetry. I would have like to have seen a longer introductory essay, or perhaps a series of essays focussing on different aspects of the art. However, this is a minor complaint since there are many good books that already do this.

The real strength of this book,in my opinion, is that the rest of the book is made up of haiku on elemental themes. The division of the book is pleasing and Jackie Hardy has made very good choices about what material to include. I found that I enjoyed this book most when I dipped into it and read four or five haiku at a time. "Haiku: Poety Ancient and Modern" makes a pleasent diversion from the stresses of daily life. It is also a nice way to fill the commercials in Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Buy it. Put it on your coffee table. Enjoy it.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Book, May 11, 2010

By 

Brad Bannister "Brad Bannister - Abstract Pai... (USA & Eastern Europe) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Haiku: Poetry Ancient & Modern (Paperback)

This is a great little book. Well designed and produced, it contains excellent poetry and graphics. Interestingly, the modern haikus are as good as the classical Japanese haikus. Whether this is because of translation, meter or cultural semantic issues with the original Japanese I cannot say, but the modern English haikus are excellent.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A beautifully constructed book, December 22, 2008

By 

San Valentino (Villanova, PA United States) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Haiku: Poetry Ancient & Modern (Paperback)

A lovely book combining haiku and beautifully reproduced Japanese paintings. Definitely in the fine tradition of Tuttle Publishing. The haiku were selected based on the preferences of the editor. I appreciated many of them, but thought too many of them deviated from the modern haiku style of not stating the poet's feelings outright, but using objective descriptions to elicit emotions. It's a matter of personal taste.