Review: '100 Poets: A Little Anthology' by John Carey
Pub. Date: 10/26/2021
Publisher: Yale University Press, London
A wonderfully readable anthology of our greatest poetry, chosen by the author of A Little History of Poetry
A poem seems a fragile thing. Change a word and it is broken. But poems outlive empires and survive the devastation of conquests. Celebrated author John Carey here presents a uniquely valuable anthology of verse based on a simple principle: select the one-hundred greatest poets from across the centuries, and then choose their finest poems.
Ranging from Homer and Sappho to Donne and Milton, Plath and Angelou, this is a delightful and accessible introduction to the very best that poetry can offer. Familiar favorites are nestled alongside marvelous new discoveries—all woven together with Carey’s expert commentary. Particular attention is given to the works of female poets, like Christina Rossetti and Charlotte Mew. This is a personal guide to the poetry that shines brightest through the ages. Within its pages, readers will find treasured poems that remain with you for life.
Poetry is deeply personal and yet also deeply traditional, which always felt a little paradoxical to me. On the one hand poetry is engaged in the traditions of its genre, either following in previous footsteps or engaging by breaking with established forms of metre or form. Yet on the other hand, every poem springs from personal experience and insight. It is this push and pull that fascinated me and what makes me go back to poems over and over again. (Obligatory link to my favourite poem.) It is also why I keep going back to books like 100 Poets, why I do scour through the pages of poetry on social media. Because I like seeing how people work within the mold, break the mold, share their personal feelings in an attempt to connect with humanity at large.
In 100 Poets John Carrey takes us on a historical tour of poetry, stopping at all his favourite stops. In the end this isn't a collection of poems but a collection of poets. We're meeting the people behind the words, as much as reading the words themselves. It makes complete sense, in a way, that not every poem can be featured entirely. Carey mostly chooses to select short passages from poems, which he then discusses. In some cases, like Sappho, we only have fragments or short poems which can be featured in their entirety. I occasionally was a little saddened by not getting an entire poem, but it still made sense to me. I liked the way in which Carey introduced every poet, how he added his analyses and thoughts alongside the poetry. For some this might be a distraction but even when I didn't agree with his thoughts I enjoyed having them to balance myself against. For those looking to develop an opinion on poetry this can be super useful, because it is hard to form an opinion in a void.
One thing that must be noted is that this collection is very Anglophone, in that it predominantly features English/American poetry. Some poets, like Sappho, are featured in translation, but mostly 100 Poets sticks to the familiar canon. If this is your first real introduction to poetry than 100 Poets will be very valuable. If you've already read through some translations, if you're a fan of discovering something new, then 100 Poets is fun but not ground-breaking. And there is nothing wrong with that! The joy of poetry is that it can be read and read again, and somehow be new each time. So I'm happy to re-read the entirety of Poe's The Raven. I'm happy to have someone else adore Emily Dickinson and to have them explain to me exactly why.
I give this book...
4 Universes!
100 Poets is a lovely little book full of poetry, or rather, full of poets! Carey does his best to make us familiar with artists from across all ages, and you're bound to find a poem or three you love.
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