Poetry For Young People: Samuel Taylor Coleridge

Though now the least known and read of the great English Romantic poets, Samuel Taylor Coleridge wrote some of the language's most immortal poems, including "Kubla Khan" and "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner." William Wordsworth's contemporary, he exercised a profound influence on the better-known writer and the younger Romantics, the latter being especially impacted by his fascinations with the occult and supernatural as well as his innovations with form. Coleridge indeed originated or perfected many genres that soon became English poetry standards, such as the conversation poem (e.g., "This Lime Tree Bower my Prison"), while works like "Christabel" were simply revolutionary on technical grounds. Also, with Wordsworth, he helped bring ballads back into vogue. More important than all this is that his best poems still stand up as remarkable instances of a singular vision - dramatically engaging, technically competent, intellectually respectable, and thematically intriguing. Though not in English poetry's upper echelon, Coleridge remains an important writer with whom anyone seriously interested in poetry must be familiar. This great collection has a generous selection - thirty-five poems over 133 pages. It is not merely representative but essentially comprehensive, containing nearly all of Coleridge's notable poems. This moves it beyond a mere primer; everyone but hard-cores and scholars will be fully served except those wanting substantial supplemental material. As this is an inexpensive edition, we get only a table of contents and a chronology; anyone wanting biographical or critical material, notes, or line numbers must look elsewhere. There are many such editions, but this will certainly satisfy most. The packaging is actually quite nice, especially considering the price; the book is a hardback with strong binding and even a built-in bookmark. Some may dislike its smallness, though the print is relatively large, but at least as many will be glad it can be pocketed. All told, anyone wanting anything less than a critical and/or comprehensive edition could do no better.

I cannot think of a better way to introduce the poetry of Samuel Taylor Coleridge than this small volume. The selection is excellent and of interest you the young reader. The commentary is quite relevant as are the pictures which accompany it. I find that often now, our young people go all the way through the early grades in school and many of them have never heard of Coleridge,much less read his poetry. This was the sort of stuff my generation and the generation before it grew up on and cut our teeth on. I truely feel I would be much less richer had I not read it and had it read to me. I do not feel I am any worse for the wear. I am fearful that we are bringing up an entire generation (rightfully or wrong, although I feel it is the later) of young folks who will have no appreciation to this great art form and will miss a lot. This book helps. This entire series helps, as a matter of fact and I certainly recommend you add this one and the others to your library. Actually, it is rather fun reading these with the young folk and then talking about them. Not only do you get to enjoy the work your self and perhaps bring back some great memories, but you have the opportunity to interact with your child or student. It is actually rather surprising what some of the kids come up with. I read these to my grandchildren and to the kids in my classes at school. For the most part, when I really get to discussing the work with them, they enjoy it. Recommend this one highly.

Thoroughly enjoyed this book. I absolutely love the old style of poetry. I highly recommend this book to poetry lovers.

The Romantics redefined english literature, and Samuel Taylor Coleridge was one of the leaders. Between he and William Wordsworth, they WERE the movement. His vision, and glorified writing style still tantalize me to this day.