Collected Poems (Paperback)

~ (Author) "Little boy Will you stop And take a look In the puppy shop - Dogs blue and liver Noses aquiver Little dogs big dogs Dogs..." (more)
Key Phrases: been much change, thy stream, Engine Drain, Holy Ghost, The King (more...)

Product Details

• Paperback: 591 pages
• Publisher: New Directions Publishing Corporation; Reprint edition (October 1983)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0811208826
• ISBN-13: 978-0811208826
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.4 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #549,126 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

33 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A must-have collection by a unique voice., July 13, 1998

By	RALPH PETERS (CLOVIS, CA USA) - See all my reviews

Stevie Smith lived with her maiden aunt in suburban London for most of her life. She dwelled on themes of death and alienation, attempted suicide, socialized with literary intelligentsia, made records and television appearances to read her poems, then died quietly after receiving the Queen's Medal for Poetry. She also represents one of the keenest, most individual voices in modern poetry. "NOT WAVING BUT DROWNING" and "TENDER ONLY TO ONE" are classics, and this wonderful volume also features a large assortment of Stevie's humorous line drawings which accompany many of her works. Those looking for an off-center, decidedly dark view of life (with a healthy dose of dry British wit) can do no better than this anthology.

3 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great, underappreciated poet, August 25, 2007

By	Trystero (Fredericktown, MO) - See all my reviews

Despite all the talk about poetry being dead during the twentieth century, it was the most prolific century for poets in modern history. The English language in particular experienced a proliferation of new and original poets. Stevie Smith was, unfortunately, one of those lesser known British poets who never achieved the fame in America she had in Europe. She was not by far the greatest poet of the century; she couldn't best Pound, Eliot, Ginsberg, Berryman, Stevens, etc. However, when one reads her works, one finds a unique intellect struggling with love and death. She reminds one of a homegrown hodge-potch of Ogden Nash and Emily Dickinson. This is thoroughly rewarding reading for anybody, and I think young girls in particular would identify with her poetry. It's the uncomplicated type of verse that SHOULD be taught in schools to help students better understand and appreciate the possibilities of the form.