This book has an enormous amount to recommend it. Its strengths are the detailed coverage of technical aspects of poetry and the subsequent survey of English poetry from its beginnings through to the present day. The extremely helpful commentaries give readers a clear idea of how to express their thoughts about poetry and to link these to closer linguistic and stylistic analyses.` - Kim Ballard, Course Leader for A-Level English Language at Esher College, Surrey, UK, and Chief Examiner for A-Level English Language for seven years