William Wordsworth - The Major Works: including The Prelude (Oxford World's Classics)

Kudos to OWC for making an edition of Wordsworth that has everything in it. The work also has an index of first lines as well as titles of the poems, so finding the piece one wants is always quick and easy. But once you get it, just leaf through the pages and experience the mind of a genius of romantic poetry.

It came quickly, but the beautiful cover had a small chunk torn out.

In this edition, works of wordsworth are ordered in the chronological order of their composition. The book consists of an introduction to Wordsworth life and poetry, his famous poems, the 1805 version of the prelude, and prefaces to the lyrical ballads and some letters on poetry. Minimal notes are given to help the reading. Overall it is a clear and compact edition which is suitble to admirers of Wordsworth poetry, and to scholars of his works who are interested in his poetic development.

How could you go wrong with this book. 'The Major Works' from one of the best poets in print. It has the added benefit of being presented in the order of composition. I'm not a great admirer of poetry, but this may make me become one!

It is Wordsworth - of course it is wonderful - but, of course, old-fashioned compared to today's poetry. I'm sure anyone who orders Wordsworth will know that in advance, so it will be exactly as they expect it to be.

Wonderful. Love his work.

Just when you thought "Oxford World's Classics" will warrant the quality of this collection....WRONG. They missed the entire 2nd stanza in "Daffodils," one of W.W.'s most important works. Unacceptable.Source: page. 303

If you like Wordsworth here it is....the major works.

It was a new book. Bought it for my brother and I think he’s read it.

This book was absolutely hopeless, poor spelling, every few pages lines were repeated so if you were reading it aloud as I do to a friend you were constantly stumbling and there was no contents page so to find a particular poem was really problematic. A dreadfully poor production!!!

近代詩人の、エズラ・パウンドは、「なぜ、あなたは、上手に詩が綴れるのですか？」と、訊かれて、「もっと、ワーズワースを読め」と、答えたとか。　ところで、学生時代の或る日、筆者は、神田神保町の、古本屋街のはずれに在る、某Ｋ沢書店の店頭に居た。すると、洋書の古本で、ワーズワースの「The Prelude」を、見かけた。　それを、手にして、パラパラと、ページを繰ると、筆者は、「驚いた」。ページが、２列組になって、細かい文字で、ビッシリと、印刷されている。　学生だった筆者は、「一生涯かけても、これだけたくさんは読めない」と、思い、本を、本棚に、戻した。それは、某Ｋ沢書店の売り値が、高かったためでもあるが・・。　この詩集には、その、「The Prelude」も、収められています、今にして見てみると、分量としては、そんなに多いとは、感じません。　もし、初めて、ワーズワースの詩集が欲しい方には、この、Oxford World's Classics の版を、お勧めします。なんでも、これは、「正確な版」だそうです。

I find that I have time in my retirement to re-read my favourite poets. In Wordsworth's case, I love the poetry, but for holding in my hands I wish somebody would come out with a 2-volume set.

Stephen Gill’s edition of Wordsworth was a landmark when it came out in 1984 and it remains so today. I’m mostly writing this to counter some ridiculous earlier reviews: the reason the poem known as ‘Daffodils’ has three stanzas, not four, is that (as it says very clearly in the prefatory matter, including a note on page one asking that all readers check said matter) Gill prints the *first* texts of the poems, i.e. the poems as they appeared to Wordsworth’s readers in his lifetime and not as they were published in 1850, the year he died; that additional stanza was added some years later, for the first collected edition of 1815.