The Routledge Anthology of Cross-Gendered Verse [Hardcover]

Alan Parker (Author), Mark Willhardt (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0415112907 | ISBN-13: 978-0415112901 | Publication Date: February 5, 1996 | Edition: 1

Both male and female poets cross the gender line: men assume a female voice and women a male voice.
The Routledge Anthology of Cross-Gendered Verse is a fascinating collection of such poems, beginning in the age of Chaucer and working its way through to the present day. Together these poems offer a unique collection of masks, personae and voices, rife with issues of class, gender and race.
Alan Parker and Mark Willhardt, in bringing together these poems for the first time, assert an entirely new paradigm; a theoretical and practical reading of a heretofore undefined genre. They also provide a critical introduction which synthesizes traditional literary debates with current gender theory and, through the lens of historical, literary, social and theoretical issues, present a new way to interpret these 'ventriloquized' poems.
The Routledge Anthology of Cross-Gendered Verse provides a wealth of material for students and teachers of literature and gender studies. It is a compelling collection which will also appeal to poetry lovers.

Editorial Reviews

Review

By presenting old material in a new context, by constructing hitherto unseen genealogies through unexpected conclusions and strategic omissions, anthologies self-consciously construct and revise Literature itself. The Routledge Anthology of Cross-Gender Verse is an example of anthology-making at its best..
– The Boston Book Review

Product Details

• Hardcover: 240 pages
• Publisher: Routledge; 1 edition (February 5, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0415112907
• ISBN-13: 978-0415112901
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.2 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #8,456,455 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Straightforward and cutting-edge material!, October 11, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: The Routledge Anthology of Cross-Gendered Verse (Paperback)

I guarantee this book will make you think differently than ever before. Not only does it give an outstanding representation of poetry that fits in the category of cross-gendered verse, but the introduction and conclusion provide a clear-cut, straightforward analysis and context in which to read the poems. This anthology cannot be compared to anything else, because it is so original. I have not found anything like it before, and yet after I read it, I agreed entirely. The editors explain exactly what cross-gendered verse is, and why it is not simply "cross-dressed." I have noticed on the internet that two universities are using the anthology as part of their classes. However, these universities are in Sweden and England. I hope that it is a result of not putting course information on the web, rather than not using the book in the States. This book would be a wonderful addition to any gender-studies, literary criticism, or poetry course. The writing is reader-friendly, as well as profoundly insightful. This would also be a great addition to your personal library, if you like new and refreshing viewpoints to add to your understanding of the world and literature. I recommend reading the essay at the end of the book before reading the poems. It provides the backgrounded needed to understand the cross-gendered concept, and why the editors chose the poems that appear in the book. The only qualm that I have with the book is that there is not more. Although the subject is covered well, I think that an in-depth extensive discussion of this concept could cover a whole book, itself. However, because this is an anthology, it is understandable why the essay is not longer. I only hope that the editors come out with a second volume.