New book #1: “Important Beyond All This: 100 Poems by 100 People”

[larryhammer]

(This is the first of two announcement posts, so stay tuned.)

I am pleased to announce the publication of Important Beyond All This: 100 Poems by 100 People. This is the book version of the proposed contents, with a few substitutions and rearrangements, I originally posted here. The cover description

“A single poem each by a hundred different poets writing between the late 15th century and 1922, selected to best represent each author. This collection of classic poetry—some anthology staples for good reason, while others deserve to be—in a variety of subjects, styles, and lengths is perfect for pleasure reading.”

The title, if you’re wondering, comes from the final poem.

The selections take advantage of the laxer size limitations of ebooks, to vary up the evenness too common in poetry anthologies: five poems are over 1000 lines long, and another five between 500 and 1000—anchoring the collection with meaty material. On the other end, 27 are a sonnet or shorter, including a couple couplet epigrams. I tried to arrange poems so that each leads into the next by association or juxtaposition, creating a pleasing variety of styles and lengths as the conversation eddies and flows.

If I have any hesitations, it’s whether I should have kept my original Swinburne—“Anactoria” had fit so well between “Goblin Market” and “The City of Dreadful Night,” but I really do prefer “A Forsaken Garden.” But regardless, it’s time to live with my choices.

Available cheaply from all the usual fine ebook purveyors: Kindle | Nook | Kobo | Smashwords | et cetera

(Reviews are appreciated, as always. So are mistake/oops/gotcha reports. Review copies can be arranged.)

---L.

Comments

[cmcmck]

A late 15th century cutoff leaves out a good many of my favourites like Rognvald Kali Kollson and Bjarni Kolbeinsson Skald.

[larryhammer]

Not to mention Dan Chaucer and Dunbar and, hmm, The Kingis Quair might make the cut as well. But I settled on a Skelton horizon to keep things more or less readable without translation. All decisions lead to what-could-have-beens.

[cmcmck]

Who needs translation? :o)

Langland too- with his wonderful, alliterative Midlands Middle English!

The Gawain poet?

[larryhammer]

Many people. If's a fine line between fidelity and how much barrier to leave to wider readers.

I find Gawain heavy going in the original, but yes another possibility. I did include that in the other collection.

[cmcmck]

My first degree was in early English literature so I guess it spoils me for translations.

[larryhammer]

Fair enough!

[sovay]

I am pleased to announce the publication of Important Beyond All This: 100 Poems by 100 People. This is the book version of the proposed contents, with a few substitutions and rearrangements, I originally posted here.

Congratulations! That's really cool!

[larryhammer]

I finally had enough brain to finish cleaning up and getting out there the ebook I'd made for myself. Thanks!

[sartorias]

Congrats!

[larryhammer]

Thanks!

[asakiyume]

Wonderful! I've thought that 100 poems by 100 people is a great thing to have move into English, and I'm glad you're doing it!

[larryhammer]

Heh. (See also) Thanks.

[swan_tower]

Purchased! I've been enjoying how Poetry Mondays introduce me to new things, and this is a good way to continue my education.

[larryhammer]

Hope you like it.

(Just FYI, I'm releasing a corrected edition probably this week, catching some proofing errors and modernizing some Elizabethan spelling I should have already taken care of.)