A pamphlet against anthologies

This lively literary polemic distinguishes the rare, legitimate anthology from the mass-produced “popular anthology.” A true anthology, the authors argue, preserves fugitive poems, fragments, ballads, epigrams, and stray lyrics that might otherwise disappear; the trade variety instead packages familiar “beauties” and stock quotations for an unquestioning public. Drawing on examples from classical and modern literature, the book asks what is gained—and what is distorted—when poetry is selected, labelled, and sold in bulk.

The discussion ranges from the early preservation of poems in collections such as Meleager’s garland to the influence of anthology-making on contemporary taste. With wit, impatience, and close attention to language, the authors challenge the authority of editors, reviewers, booksellers, and readers who reduce poetry to detachable passages and approved favourites. Their argument ultimately reaches beyond anthologies themselves, examining how popular expectations shape the writing and reception of modern poems, and defending a more active, independent engagement with living poetry.