William Wordsworth

May 26, 2003
The Poetry for Young People series adds two renowned British Romantics: Samuel Taylor Coleridge, ed. by James Engell, illus. by Harvey Chan; and William Wordsworth, ed. by Alan Liu, illus. by James Muir. The first title features excerpts from some of Coleridge's most famous long narrative poems, such as "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner," along with shorter works, such as "Answer to a Child's Question," which begins "Do you ask what the birds say? The sparrow, the dove,/ The linnet and the thrush say, `I love and I love!' " Wordsworth is organized around topics such as "Nature" and "Children and Young People," and includes famous works such as "I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud." The poet's love of nature shines throughout, as in the opening lines of "It Is a Beauteous Evening, Calm and Free": "It is a beauteous evening, calm and free,/ The holy time is quiet as a Nun/ Breathless with adoration." As befits each poet, the artwork for Coleridge tends toward the more mystical and fantastic, while that for Wordsworth focuses on realistic and natural scenes.