For students and the general reader
This anthology has been prepared for the general reader
and will have a special value for students, including GCSE and A level.
Out in the Dark contains
- the most important poems of the First World War
(more details below)
- popular verse
- Poetry by 17 women poets
- a few examples of late 19th century English militarist
verse
- basic explanatory notes on unusual expressions
or vocabulary
- a glossary
- illustrations including contemporary photographs
Many of the poems are
currently selected by exam boards. The 19th century poems, examples of the culture
of Empire and militarism, help to explain both the rush to war and the nature
of the early poetry of the First World War - 140 poems in all by 47 poets.
Grouped for better understanding
The great classic poets of the war: Wilfred Owen (19
poems), Siegfried Sassoon (27), Edward Thomas (13), Thomas Hardy (9), Rupert
Brooke (6), Charles Sorley (6), Isaac Rosenberg (9) have their poems arranged
in date order in separate chapters. As a result the development of their ideas
or styles may more readily be appreciated.
Forty other poets round out this poignant collection.
Other chapters include Britain Dreams of War, the
Home Front, Women Poets, and Trench Warfare.
Appreciating the poems
Out in the Dark contains the background
information (including extracts from poets' letters and diaries) and specialised
vocabulary that students need to be able to understand and interpret set war
poetry texts. Comments of past and present day critics give starting points
for considering alternative interpretations of many poems.
This anthology of war poetry, with its
contextual material and strong illustrations will prove stimulating and rewarding,
and an ideal resource for "coursework."
Main differences from Minds at War
Fewer poems and less background information -
though still substantial and still including extracts from poets' letters and
diaries. Has the addition of basic notes explaining unusual vocabulary with
almost all poems and the addition of comments of critics on a number of key
poets, making it invaluable to students.
Comments on Out in the Dark
"Absolutely wonderful" - Pat Davidson, Poetry
Buyer, Waterstones, Worcester, speaking about Minds at War and Out
in the Dark.
"By far the most useful anthology for students;
it is really well designed, and gives students just the context they need for
the poetry. It also provides a particularly stimulating selection of poems.
I like it very much, but I actually feel that schools (and universities for
that matter) should have both volumes. [Minds at War and Out in the
Dark.]" - Felicity Currie, author of the Textwise
study guides to English literature*, former assistant chief examiner in A level
English Literature, university lecturer.
"Out in the Dark . . . a substantial
anthology of key poems and a wide range of selected material from diaries, letters,
other poetry of the period, contextual and critical material . . . [Out in
the Dark and Minds at War] contain a wealth of information and creative
material which puts many other First World War anthologies into the shade."
- - Gordon Hodgson, in National Association of Teachers of English web review
on yahoo.co.uk.
"The poets are put precisely in their
social and political context, with the pre-war background set out helpfully
and basic notes to the poems. . . The book helps you to understand public
opinion by including poems written as pro-war and imperialist and militarist
arguments which prepared young minds to support and wage war. . .
Contains Sassoon's 'wilful defiance of military authority [statement]' because
the war had 'become a war of aggression and conquest,' and Arnold Bennett's
argument against it. . . Tellingly illustrated and balanced."
- Ronald Mallone, Day by Day.
* A Textwise guide to the poetry of the First
World War consists of 48 A4 spiral bound, photocopiable pages of in depth analysis
of poetry by 12 First World War poets. The pages arepacked with sharp insights
and written with an infectious passion for the subject. They cannot fail to
enlighten and inspire students.
More information is available from The Critical
Forum, 10 West Street, Buckingham MK18 1HL or visit their web
site: http://www.thecriticalforum.co.uk/
Out in the Dark
Poetry of the First
World War
in Context and
with Basic Notes
David
Roberts
192 pages 9x6", 234x156mm,
Paperback Illustrated ISBN 0 952 8969 1 5 £8-99 (UK)
See list of poets and poems in Out in the Dark.
Poets
and Poems in Out in the Dark
To information about
Minds
at War
Visit
our war poetry website for more information about First World War poets
and poetry, plus contemporary war poetry from Vietnam to the war in
Iraq. www.warpoetry.co.uk
Copyright © 2007 Saxon Books.
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