The
Routledge Anthology of Cross-Gendered Verse by Alan
Michael Parker (Editor), Mark Willhardt (Editor)
An
anthology of poems written by men speaking as women, and by women
as men, covering 5 centuries of verse from the Wife of Bath to
today. Includes Chaucer, Raleigh, Dryden, Pope, Blake, Burns,
Schott, Wordsworth, Bronte, Barret Browning ,Rosetti, Tennyson,
Kipling, Hardy, Frost, Stevens, Yeats, Hughes...
"By
presenting old material in a new context, by constructing hitherto
unseen genealogies through unexpected conclusions and strategic
omissions, anthologies self-consciously construct and revise
Literature itself. The Routledge Anthology of Cross-Gender
Verse is an example of anthology-making at its best.." --
The Boston Book Review
"I
guarantee this book will make you think differently than ever
before. Not only does it give an outstanding representation of
poetry that fits in the category of cross-gendered verse, but the
introduction and conclusion provide a clear-cut, straightforward
analysis and context in which to read the poems. This anthology
cannot be compared to anything else, because it is so original. I
have not found anything like it before, and yet after I read it, I
agreed entirely. The editors explain exactly what cross-gendered
verse is, and why it is not simply "cross-dressed." I
have noticed on the internet that two universities are using the
anthology as part of their classes. However, these universities
are in Sweden and England. I hope that it is a result of not
putting course information on the web, rather than not using the
book in the States. This book would be a wonderful addition to any
gender-studies, literary criticism, or poetry course. The writing
is reader-friendly, as well as profoundly insightful. This would
also be a great addition to your personal library, if you like new
and refreshing viewpoints to add to your understanding of the
world and literature. I recommend reading the essay at the end of
the book before reading the poems. It provides the background
needed to understand the cross-gendered concept, and why the
editors chose the poems that appear in the book. The only qualm
that I have with the book is that there is not more. Although the
subject is covered well, I think that an in-depth extensive
discussion of this concept could cover a whole book, itself.
However, because this is an anthology, it is understandable why
the essay is not longer. I only hope that the editors come out
with a second volume." -- Anonymous Review
