Among My Books. First Series

In this lively collection of essays, the author guides listeners through the shifting currents of English poetry, tracing how taste and technique have been shaped from the Restoration to the Romantic era. He begins with vivid anecdotes—like a boy’s encounter with a salamander—to illustrate the old belief that sensory jolts could sharpen memory and artistic perception.

The narrative moves deftly among the towering figures of Dryden, Pope, Goldsmith, Wordsworth, and Keats, revealing the tug‑of‑war between rigid classical models and the restless urge for reform. By juxtaposing the formal constraints of the past with the daring innovations of the modern poets, the work illuminates how each generation both inherits and rebels against its predecessors.

Rich with literary references and peppered with witty observations, the essays feel like a conversation with a knowledgeable guide who loves both the poetry itself and the stories behind its creation. Ideal for anyone who enjoys thoughtful, well‑crafted commentary on the evolution of verse.