How to Read a Poem by Edward Hirsch

How to Read a Poem

And Fall in Love With Poetry

Edward Hirsch

HarperCollins · Print & ebook · April 1, 2000

A masterful work by a master poet, this brilliant summation of poetry and human nature will speak to all readers who long to place poetry in their lives.

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Who it’s for
Edward Hirsch explores how poetry moves us and why it belongs in our lives.
Themes
Poetry and feeling, Poetry and human nature, Imagination through poetry
Genres
Poetry Criticism, Books & Reading, Poetry Writing

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About this book

A masterful work by a master poet, this brilliant summation of poetry and human nature will speak to all readers who long to place poetry in their lives. How to Read a Poem is an unprecedented exploration of poetry and feeling. In language at once acute and emotional, National Book Critics Circle award-winning distinguished poet and critic Edward Hirsch describes why poetry matters and how we can open up our imaginations so that its message can make a difference.

Continue reading

In a marvelous reading of verse from around the world, including work by Pablo Neruda, Elizabeth Bishop, Wallace Stevens, and Sylvia Plath, among many others, Hirsch discovers the true meaning of their words and ideas and brings their sublime message home into our hearts. "The answer Hirsch gives to the question of how to read as poem is: Ecstatically."—Boston Book Review

Poetry, Felt

Edward Hirsch explores how poetry moves us and why it belongs in our lives.

Come here for

  • A thoughtful account of poetry’s place in human feeling
  • Readings ranging from Pablo Neruda to Sylvia Plath

Expect

  • Close attention to the meaning and emotional force of poems
  • An invitation to bring poetry into your imagination

Where it sits

Poetry Criticism85%
Books & Reading40%
Poetry Writing31%

Percentages are BookFrontier’s reading of the book.

Publisher categories

  • American Literary Collections
  • Essay Collections
  • American Lit Crit
  • Books & Reading
Show all 8 publisher categories
  • Literary Criticism Reference
  • Drama Criticism
  • Poetry Criticism
  • Comparative Literature
Authors
Edward Hirsch
Publisher
HarperCollins
Published
April 1, 2000
Format
Print & ebook
Theme
Poetry and feeling · Poetry and human nature · Imagination through poetry
Reading lane
American Literary Collections