100 Best-Loved Poems (Dover Thrift Editions)

The collection is as advertised: these are the best-loved poems in the English language. These are familiar poems, poems that are accessible to casual readers of poetry, poems that continue to resonate today. Smiths compilation is fun to read and to reread. Any teacher would find it ideal for introductory English literature classes, honors high school or college.

What is missing? This collection excludes translations of classical poetry, poetry of the non-English speaking world, and contemporary English-speaking poets. But this little book contains enough gems to satisfy any treasure hunter.

This Dover edition is an excellent buy. Just imagine, great poetry for only a penny per poem.

Looking for a more eclectic anthology? See 100 Poems by 100 Poets compiled by Harold Pinter, Geoffrey Godbert, and Anthony Astbury. They present what they consider (by unanimous decision, often after heated argument) to be the best poem by each of the 100 best poets in the English language. Their choices only occasionally overlap with the better known selections in Philip Smiths Dover edition.

One Hundred and One Famous Poems, compiled by Roy J. Cook in 1927, has long been a favorite anthology of British and American poets. It is an interesting collection, as it includes many poets that are now less familiar or even forgotten, but who were popular in the early part of the last century. Take a look at this anthology. You will be pleasantly surprised. It has been reprinted many times and it is not difficult to find copies on the Internet.

And hey, its a buck...why not?