From Booklist
Gr. 5-8. From the Poetry for Young People series, this effective, large-format book provides a highly illustrated introduction to the poems of Tennyson. Maynard's introduction gives a vivid picture of the poet: his childhood and youth, the pivotal relationships and events in his life, his particular skills as a poet, the background of his most famous works, and his unusually strong acclaim during his lifetime. The selections that follow are generally taken from longer works but stand on their own, particularly with a few lines from the editor setting the stage and a key on each page to words that might be unknown or unclear. The paintings that illustrate each poem are richly colored, imaginative, and impressionistic interpretations of the verse. Carolyn Phelan
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
Book Description
From the grand and mythic Idylls of King Arthur to the tragic, rousing "Charge of the Light Brigade," Alfred Lord Tennyson's poetry explores a range of magical, dramatic, and thoughtful topics. This outstanding and stunningly-illustrated entry in the much-praised Poetry for Young People series gathers excerpts from 26 of his finest works. The biography and annotations by a distinguished scholar, and extraordinary full-color paintings by a renowned artist on nearly every page, are the hallmarks of this acclaimed series. Youngsters will enjoy encountering Tennyson's "Mermaid"; the "Lotos Eaters"; and "Ulysses." A beautiful picture of "The Lady of Shalott," captures the sad heroine's isolation "in her four gray walls, and four gray towers." Images of a lonely man and a sweeping landscape illustrate Tennyson's masterpiece, In Memoriam. Plus: the haunting "The Owl," the lullaby "Sweet and Low," "The Hesperides," and other immortal verses.
About the Editor:
John Maynard is Professor of English at New York University and the former chair of the department. He has written books on Robert Browning, Charlotte Bronte, and the Victorian view of religion and love. Professor Maynard is also co-editor of the journal Victorian Literature and Culture.
About the Illustrator:
Allen Garns has worked as a freelance illustrator for a number of publishers and magazines, including the Atlantic Monthly. He has received awards from the Society of Illustrators of New York, American Illustration, and Communication Arts and Graphics. His paintings have been exhibited in a number of galleries.
Poetry for Young People: Alfred, Lord Tennyson ANNOTATION
A brief profile of the nineteenth century English poet, Alfred Tennyson, accompanies selections from some of his best known works.
FROM THE PUBLISHER
From the grand and mythic Idylls of King Arthur to the tragic, rousing "Charge of the Light Brigade," Alfred Lord Tennyson's poetry explores a range of magical, dramatic, and thoughtful topics. This outstanding and stunningly-illustrated entry in the much-praised Poetry for Young People series gathers excerpts from 26 of his finest works. The biography and annotations by a distinguished scholar, and extraordinary full-color paintings by a renowned artist on nearly every page, are the hallmarks of this acclaimed series. Youngsters will enjoy encountering Tennyson's "Mermaid"; the "Lotos Eaters"; and "Ulysses." A beautiful picture of "The Lady of Shalott," captures the sad heroine's isolation "in her four gray walls, and four gray towers." Images of a lonely man and a sweeping landscape illustrate Tennyson's masterpiece, In Memoriam. Plus: the haunting "The Owl," the lullaby "Sweet and Low," "The Hesperides," and other immortal verses.
FROM THE CRITICS
Publishers Weekly
A spring crop of poetry as well as plays in verse, both classic and contemporary, celebrate life, art and humanity. Featuring a comprehensive biography on the poets and notes on their poems, the Poetry for Young People series adds two entries. William Carlos Williams, ed. by Christopher MacGowan, illus. by Robert Crockett, collects works from across the poet's long and intriguing career. Often making use of original structures and rhythms, his poems contain vivid images of American life, both urban and rural. The volume takes readers from lesser known works such as "Spring Strains" ("In a tissue-thin monotone of blue-grey buds/ crowded erect with desire against/ the sky-") to his popular "The Red Wheelbarrow." The poetry of Alfred, Lord Tennyson, ed. by John Maynard, illus. by Allen Garns, unfolds largely in traditional iambic pentameter and couplets, covering topics from Greek or Arthurian myths to the loss of a close friend. Excerpts from "The Lady of Shalott" and "The Charge of the Light Brigade" sit alongside the full text of "Crossing the Bar." In both volumes, colorful paintings act as concretely visual accompaniments. Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.
Children's Literature - Barbara Youngblood
The reader is introduced to some of the most famous poems of Tennyson after reading a short biography of the poet himself. Some poems are excerpts of longer works but they have been selected for the interest of the younger reader. There is a space for definitions of words that modern readers might not understand which I found very helpful. The illustrations are quite lovely and spark the reader's interest in the poems. This is a great introduction to a great, English poet whose works have survived the test of time. Children might be encouraged to know that he started writing at the age of six. 2003, Sterling Publishing, Ages 5 to 12.
Art & Photography
Book Info
