The New Book of Forms: A Handbook of Poetics [Paperback]

Lewis Turco (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback: 292 pages
• Publisher: UPNE; 2 edition (October 1, 1986)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0874513812
• ISBN-13: 978-0874513813
• Product Dimensions: 7.4 x 5 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #719,269 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The premier book on poetic forms, September 13, 2000

By 

M. J. Smith (Seattle, WA USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The New Book of Forms: A Handbook of Poetics (Hardcover)

While I prefer my first edition solely because of the layout, this second edition has several advantages. Where the first edition had short chapters on metrics, sonics and tropes, the second edition has more than doubled the material included and divided it into four levels - typographic, sonic, sensory and ideational.

Then comes the glory of this book - the book of forms with a form finder and wonderfully clear definitions of the form. The language of origin of the form, the basis of its metrical scheme (syllablic, accentual etc), a description of the metric and rhyme schemes and a very clear notation illustrating the scheme are given. Variants are cross-referenced or included. This material is basically the same as in the first edition. However, this book includes sample poems based on the structure as well as references in the text (unlike the appended bibliography of the first edition) of other poems in the form.

Anyone who is serious about poetry - either as a reader or a writer - should consider Turco's Book of Forms as an essential resource.

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Was in his class used the book, March 28, 2000

By 

S. Goff "S. Goff" (nj) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The New Book of Forms: A Handbook of Poetics (Paperback)

Professor Turco taught his poetry class at Oswego State using this book - though it has been almost 9 years since I took poetry 1 and 2 with Turco, the lessons he taught me have never left me. The book, the class, the entire Lewis Turco experience is a memory I wont soon forget. When I started the class I was incensed at his pompous, know it all audacity in making us use his forms and methods and being a very strict and harsh grader. By the end of the class I had gotten the hang of sylabics, etc. and was writing poetry with the best of them and loving it. His methods WORK, dont give up half way through, and if you can take a class with him, do so - I think he may have retired.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars without exception, a cornerstone of my library., February 3, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The New Book of Forms: A Handbook of Poetics (Paperback)

I have used Turco's "New Book of Forms" in countless situations and needs. I teach my students from it, I use it in my writing, I read from it for entertainment and I examine it for use in historical research. It is as essential to my writing as any book could be.