📖 Overview
Edward Hirsch's Poet's Choice collects his weekly columns originally published in the Washington Post Book World from 2002-2005. Each concise essay introduces and examines a poem or poet, drawing from a diverse range of voices across centuries and cultures.
The book presents 130 entries, with Hirsch providing context and analysis for works by poets from ancient Greece to contemporary America. His selections span multiple languages, movements, and styles - from haiku to epic verse, from celebrated masters to overlooked talents.
Hirsch anchors each discussion in the poems themselves, sharing key passages while exploring their craft, meaning, and historical significance. The essays maintain accessibility for general readers while offering insights that can benefit poetry scholars and writers.
The collection serves as both a study of poetry's enduring power and a demonstration of how close reading can unlock new dimensions of understanding. Through these accumulated pieces, patterns emerge about poetry's capacity to capture human experience and speak across boundaries of time and place.
👀 Reviews
Readers appreciate Hirsch's accessible explanations of poems and his enthusiasm for sharing poetry with newcomers. Many reviewers note the book serves as an introduction to poets they hadn't encountered before. Several comments highlight how Hirsch connects poems to human experiences and emotions.
Readers cited frustration with the book's organization, saying the selections feel random at times. Some found Hirsch's commentary too brief on certain poems and wanted deeper analysis. A few readers mentioned the book works better as a reference to dip into occasionally rather than reading straight through.
Ratings:
Goodreads: 4.0/5 (129 ratings)
Amazon: 4.3/5 (21 ratings)
Sample reader comments:
"Like having a knowledgeable friend guide you through poetry" - Goodreads reviewer
"Great introductions but leaves you wanting more depth" - Amazon reviewer
"Helped me discover dozens of new poets to explore" - LibraryThing reviewer
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How to Read a Poem and Fall in Love with Poetry by Edward Hirsch This work presents detailed analyses of poems across centuries and cultures while revealing the mechanisms that make poetry function.
Why Poetry by Matthew Zapruder The book demystifies poetry through examination of works from classical to contemporary poets while addressing common obstacles readers face when approaching poems.
A Poetry Handbook by Mary Oliver This technical manual breaks down the craft of poetry through discussions of sound, line breaks, rhythm, and diction.
The Sounds of Poetry by Robert Pinsky This guide focuses on the physical aspects of poetry—rhythm, stress, and syntax—through analysis of specific poems and poetic forms.
🤔 Interesting facts
🌟 Edward Hirsch wrote "Poet's Choice" based on his popular Washington Post Book World columns, where he shared weekly insights about poetry from 2002 to 2005.
📚 The book examines poems from 130 different poets spanning various cultures, languages, and time periods—from ancient Greek to contemporary American poetry.
✍️ Hirsch spent over 20 years teaching at the University of Houston and Wayne State University before becoming president of the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation in 2002.
🎭 Each essay in the book begins with Hirsch's personal connection to a particular poem, making complex poetry accessible to general readers through storytelling and context.
🌍 The collection includes discussions of works translated from 27 different languages, bringing lesser-known international poets to English-speaking audiences.