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The Fire of Joy
Roughly 80 Poems to Get by Heart and Say Aloud
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Check link for latest rating. ( 343 ratings, 52 reviews)
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The Fire of Joy
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?
This anthology is ideal for poetry lovers, students, and anyone eager to explore classic and modern English verse enriched by personal insights from a celebrated critic. It offers a stimulating resource for learners and enthusiasts wishing to deepen their appreciation and memorise impactful poems.
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See moreIn the last book he completed before he died, Clive James offers a personal guide to the poems he found it impossible to forget.
In the last book he completed before he died, Clive James offers a personal guide to the poems he found it impossible to forget.
Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and
still learning, it may not be perfect - your
feedback is welcome!
Description
Essentially, this is Clive James' desert island poems: a selection of his favourite verse and a personal commentary on each.
The Fire of Joy was the final book Clive James completed before his death in 2019. It takes its title from the French expression Feu de Joie, which refers to a military celebration when all the riflemen of a regiment fire one shot after another in a wave of continuous sound: it is a reminder that the regiment's collective power relies on the individual, and vice versa.
In this book, James has chosen a succession of English poems, exploding in sequence from Chaucer to the present day; they tell the story of someone writing something wonderful, and someone else coming along, reading it, and feeling impelled to write something even more wonderful. After a lifetime, these are the poems James found so good that he remembered them despite himself. In offering them to you, the main purpose of this book is to provide ammunition that will satisfy your urge to discover, learn and declaim verse.
As well as his selection of poems, James offers a commentary on each: whether this is a biographical, historical or critical introduction to the poem, or a more personal anecdote about the role a particular poem has played in James's life, these mini essays provide the joy of James's enthusiasm and the benefit of his knowledge. Full of the flashing fires of poems you will not be able to forget, this book will ignite your passion and leave you with a contagious crackle rattling in your ears.
Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?
A treasure trove of poetic pleasure – The Times highlights the book's fun, wise and persuasive nature, perfect for casual dipping into. The Guardian praises James' quintessentially personal commentaries on 80 beloved poems. The Daily Mail calls it a moving joy with selections from iconic poets like Byron and Wordsworth. Readers are invited to enjoy not just the poems but James' witty and opinionated essays, offering a joyous farewell from the late, esteemed critic and humourist.
Book Details
INFORMATION
ISBN: 9781529042085
Publisher: Pan Macmillan
Format: Hardback
Date Published: 01 October 2020
Country: United Kingdom
Imprint: Picador
Audience: General / adult
DIMENSIONS
Spine width: 35.0mm
Width: 138.0mm
Height: 205.0mm
Weight: 374g
Pages: 320
Collections
About the Author
Clive James was the multi-million-copy bestselling author of more than forty books. His poetry collection Sentenced to Life and his translation of Dante's The Divine Comedy were both Sunday Times top ten bestsellers, and his collections of verse were shortlisted for many prizes. In 2012 he was appointed CBE and in 2013 an Officer of the Order of Australia. He died in 2019.
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