Lives of the Poets

Lives of the Poets traces the development of English-language poetry from the 14th century through modern times through biographical portraits of major poets. Schmidt profiles hundreds of poets chronologically, from Chaucer through contemporary voices. The book combines biographical details with analysis of each poet's work and influence on the craft. Historical context and cultural movements frame the evolution of poetic styles and forms across centuries. Critical reception and contemporary responses to poets' work are woven throughout the narrative. Schmidt examines both celebrated figures and lesser-known poets who shaped the art form. Through these interconnected portraits, the book reveals how poetry responds to and reflects changes in language, society and human understanding across generations. The focus remains on how individual poets advanced their art while building upon or breaking from those who came before.

Readers describe this as a comprehensive survey of English poetry that balances biographical details with analysis. Many note it serves well as both a reference work and cover-to-cover read. Liked: - Depth of research and inclusion of lesser-known poets - Clear writing style makes complex topics accessible - Effective mix of biographical stories and poetry examination - Useful chronological organization Disliked: - Length (over 700 pages) can be overwhelming - Some readers wanted more poetry excerpts - Coverage of female poets feels limited - Modern poets receive less attention than classical ones Ratings: Goodreads: 4.2/5 (92 ratings) Amazon: 4.5/5 (18 reviews) One reader called it "more engaging than a textbook but more informative than a casual history." Another noted it "brings poets' personalities and relationships to life without getting bogged down in minutiae." Critics mentioned the book can feel dense at times and requires dedicated focus to absorb the material.

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🎨 Despite covering over 300 poets across multiple centuries, Schmidt wrote much of this ambitious work while commuting by train between his home and Manchester Metropolitan University. 📚 The book's scope extends beyond just English-language poets, incorporating significant influences from Classical Greek and Latin poetry through translation and cultural impact. ✍️ Michael Schmidt founded Carcanet Press, one of the UK's leading poetry publishers, while still an undergraduate at Oxford University in 1969. 🌟 The book deliberately challenges the traditional canon by including often-overlooked female poets and writers from diverse backgrounds alongside more familiar names. 📖 Rather than organizing poets strictly chronologically, Schmidt structures the book through thematic connections and literary relationships, creating what he calls "conversations across centuries."