Sixteenth-Century Poetry: An Annotated Anthology (Blackwell Annotated Anthologies) [Paperback]

Gordon Braden (Editor)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 1405101164 | ISBN-13: 978-1405101165 | Publication Date: January 24, 2005 | Edition: 1

This fully-annotated anthology of sixteenth-century English verse features generous selections from the canonical poets, alongside judicious selections from lesser-known authors.

• Includes complete works or substantial extracts of longer poems wherever possible, including Book III of the ‘Faerie Queene’ and the whole of ‘Astrophil and Stella’.


• Covers a range of genres, including the love lyric, mythological narrative, sacred poetry and political poetry.


• Encourages readers to discover unusual and interesting connections and contrasts between poems and poets.


• Detailed annotations facilitate close reading of the poems.

Editorial Reviews

Book Description

This anthology of sixteenth-century English verse features generous selections from the canonical poets, alongside judicious selections from lesser-known writers. The anthology represents a wide range of genres, including the love lyric, mythological narrative, and religious and political poetry. It covers a broad time period, extending to include the love poetry of John Donne, which marked the end of one poetic era and the beginning of another. Major works or parts of works are presented in their entirety wherever possible: Book III of The Faery Queen and the whole of Astrophil and Stella, for example. At the same time, the inclusion of unusual material, such as several poems reportedly written as their authors awaited execution, and six different versions of the same psalm, encourages readers to discover interesting connections and contrasts in the literature of the period. Detailed annotations provide useful background information and facilitate close reading of the poems.

From the Back Cover

This anthology of sixteenth-century English verse features generous selections from the canonical poets, alongside judicious selections from lesser-known writers. The anthology represents a wide range of genres, including the love lyric, mythological narrative, and religious and political poetry. It covers a broad time period, extending to include the love poetry of John Donne, which marked the end of one poetic era and the beginning of another.

Major works or parts of works are presented in their entirety wherever possible: Book III of The Faery Queen and the whole of Astrophil and Stella, for example. At the same time, the inclusion of unusual material, such as several poems reportedly written as their authors awaited execution, and six different versions of the same psalm, encourages readers to discover interesting connections and contrasts in the literature of the period. Detailed annotations provide useful background information and facilitate close reading of the poems.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 608 pages
• Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell; 1 edition (January 24, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1405101164
• ISBN-13: 978-1405101165
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 6.7 x 1.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 2.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #775,150 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

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0 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Good condition except for broken spine, June 23, 2011

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This review is from: Sixteenth-Century Poetry: An Annotated Anthology (Blackwell Annotated Anthologies) (Paperback)

The book arrived well within the time promised, even a bit early. Although the book itself appeared to be in good condition, as the seller described, the spine was broken. I believe the packaging was at fault. This heavy paperback was shipped in a brown envelope only, with no protective wrapping; it needed to be in a carboard box.