The Consolation of Poetry

This book proposes a series of ten "lessons" on many of the important ethical questions in human life, based on a wide-ranging series of poems in English. These poems are treated as testimonies to the poets' experience and understanding of such topics as forgiveness, centering, self-reliance, and one's ultimate parting from life.

How can poetry help us live our lives? From Shakespeare's time to the present, poets have faced the questions of love, discovery, centering, parting, forgiveness, and our common, mortal destination. They have much to say to us, and they say it well. This is a book for the general reader who seeks solace and inspiration in the words poets have left us.

Autorentext

David Spurr is emeritus professor of English at the University of Geneva, Switzerland.

Klappentext

How can poetry help us live our lives? From Shakespeare s time to the present, poets have faced the questions of love, discovery, centering, parting, forgiveness, and our common, mortal destination. They have much to say to us, and they say it well. This is a book for the general reader who seeks solace and inspiration in the words poets have left us.

Inhalt

Poetry - Neighbor - Forgiveness - Centering - Humility - Discovery - Parting - Dejection - Mourning - Self-reliance.