Imagist Poetry
Imagist Poetry by Peter Jones, published by Penguin Books in 1972, offers an insightful exploration of the Imagism movement that emerged in the early 1900s. This 188-page edition delves into the characteristics that defined Imagist poetry, highlighting its emphasis on brevity, precision, and the purity of texture. The book presents a reaction against the complexities of late nineteenth-century poetry, as articulated by key figures like Ezra Pound, who critiqued the era’s poetic style.
Readers will find a comprehensive overview of the movement’s principles, as well as an examination of its lasting impact on contemporary poetic practices. The introduction by Peter Jones provides context and clarity, making it accessible for those interested in poetry and anthologies featuring multiple authors. This edition serves as a valuable resource for understanding the foundational ideas of Imagism and its significance in the evolution of modern poetry.
Official synopsis Publisher
Imagism was a brief, complex yet influential poetic movement of the early 1900s, a time of reaction against late nineteenth-century poetry which Ezra Pound, one of the key imagist poets, described as ‘a doughy mess of third-hand Keats, Wordsworth … half-melted, lumpy’. In contrast, imagist poetry, although riddled with conflicting definitions, was broadly characterized by brevity, precision, purity of texture and concentration of meaning: as Pound stated, it should ‘use no superfluous word, no adjective, which does not reveal something … it does not use images as ornaments. The image itself is the speech’. It was this freshness and directness of approach which means that, as Peter Jones says in his invaluable Introduction, ‘imagistic ideas still lie at the centre of our poetic practice’.
Author
Publisher
Topics
FAQ
What is “Imagist Poetry” about?
Who is the author of “Imagist Poetry”?
When was “Imagist Poetry” published?
What is the ISBN for “Imagist Poetry”?
What are the book details (language, pages, edition)?
