Books: Needed: Critical Svengalis and Mad Ezras Two Huge New Rival Anthologies Claim to Define Post-War British and Irish Poetry. William Scammell Finds out Who's in and Who's Out

Scammell, William, The Independent (London, England)

T he editor of Poetry Review remarked some years ago that whereas Scots, Irish and Welsh writers never stopped thinking about their cultural identity, modern English poetry was short on self-analysis and the necessary business of canon-making. Here come two anthologies to fill the gap, so large and eclectic that they might be thought inimical to very idea of a canon. They are remarkably similar in spirit and scope, taking what you might call the lucky- dip approach to poetry. The Penguin Book of Poetry From Britain and Ireland Since 1945, eds Simon Armitage and Robert Crawford (pounds 10.99), glad- hands no less than 141 poets, while The Firebox: Poetry in Britain and Ireland …

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Publication information: Article title: Books: Needed: Critical Svengalis and Mad Ezras Two Huge New Rival Anthologies Claim to Define Post-War British and Irish Poetry. William Scammell Finds out Who's in and Who's Out. Contributors: Scammell, William - Author. Newspaper title: The Independent (London, England). Publication date: October 18, 1998. Page number: 13. © 2009 The Independent - London. Provided by ProQuest LLC. All Rights Reserved.

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