Your pure mild-mannered enthusiasm has completely convinced me that I want to read this; an Elizabethan epic poem of such length really does sound scrumptious. I’ve been disappointed by Shakespeare’s sonnets and long poetry lately, and it is time for me to look around the Elizabethan period for all the other genius. It bespeaks a larger negligence of the period’s literature - in favor of Bardolatry. As long as the enthusiasm is there, the more recondite the books in these essential bookshelf videos are, the better it is!
When such an immense shadow is cast, how can anyone really do anything beside clutch what little light they can? There's a wealth of worthwhile authors and works in the Medieval-Renaissance era, but it seems like they all get passed over in favor of the big four: Chaucer, Dante, Shakespeare, and Milton. Anyone else pre-Milton is unknown to the point of obscurity to many readers.
I'm aware of Edmund Spenser, though I've never read him. Interesting fact, though, Robert B. Parker's P.I. character Spenser is named after Edmund Spenser (as Chandler's Philip Marlowe is named after the poet Christopher Marlowe.)
I read Faerie Queene two years ago. It is a tough read, but brilliant. I have the Longman's Annotated edition that you mention. If you can find it, it's worth the money. I feel a reread coming on, David.
Absolutely worth every minute spent grappling with the text, just like Shakespeare, Dante, Chaucer, and Milton. I'll certainly be watching for that Annotated edition!
Your pure mild-mannered enthusiasm has completely convinced me that I want to read this; an Elizabethan epic poem of such length really does sound scrumptious. I’ve been disappointed by Shakespeare’s sonnets and long poetry lately, and it is time for me to look around the Elizabethan period for all the other genius. It bespeaks a larger negligence of the period’s literature - in favor of Bardolatry.
As long as the enthusiasm is there, the more recondite the books in these essential bookshelf videos are, the better it is!
When such an immense shadow is cast, how can anyone really do anything beside clutch what little light they can? There's a wealth of worthwhile authors and works in the Medieval-Renaissance era, but it seems like they all get passed over in favor of the big four: Chaucer, Dante, Shakespeare, and Milton. Anyone else pre-Milton is unknown to the point of obscurity to many readers.
I'm aware of Edmund Spenser, though I've never read him. Interesting fact, though, Robert B. Parker's P.I. character Spenser is named after Edmund Spenser (as Chandler's Philip Marlowe is named after the poet Christopher Marlowe.)
It is always fun to see authors pay homage in subtle ways like that!
I read Faerie Queene two years ago. It is a tough read, but brilliant. I have the Longman's Annotated edition that you mention. If you can find it, it's worth the money. I feel a reread coming on, David.
Absolutely worth every minute spent grappling with the text, just like Shakespeare, Dante, Chaucer, and Milton. I'll certainly be watching for that Annotated edition!
@@DavidWiley7 it's about £30 in UK, but the hardback is more expensive. I'd send you a copy but postage to the US is exorbitant.