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(Hutchinson, ISBN 0-09-179661-X)
As someone who occasionally writes poems I was intrigued by this book when I saw it in Waterstones, so I grabbed a copy to skim while I was having coffee. I was immediately hooked, and dropped very unsubtle hints about what I'd like for Christmas.
You can almost hear Stephen Fry talking as you read, and his explanations of the various aspects of poetics are never less than interesting. It's like getting private lessons from a well-read and witty teacher.
For me, the most interesting section was the first, on metre. I've wanted to know more about how it works for some time, but I've never found a textbook on it that I actually want to study. There are also sections on rhyme, form and "Diction and Poetry Today".
There are lots of good example verses - both Fry's and others. There are also exercises which Fry strongly encourages you to have a go at. There's an only half-joking "user licence" for the book, where you agree not to read any further until you complete the exercises up to that point.
It's a fine book, and I will do the exercises eventually (honest). It also confirms your notion that Stephen Fry really does know everything, and is annoyingly good at it.
Posted by MFreestone at March 3, 2006 08:28 AM