Twentieth-Century French Poetry: A Critical Anthology

Modern French poetry is unique in the boldness and creativity of its experiments in form and genre, from classical verse to vers libre, from calligrammes to prose poems and poesie sonore. This anthology includes 32 poems by French and francophone poets, each followed by an accessibly written, detailed commentary. The different approaches adopted in the close readings by specialists in their field reflect the major trends in current literary criticism and theory. A foreword by one of France’s foremost poets, Yves Bonnefoy, a general introduction, and an afterword provide a helpful theoretical framework for the study of modern poetry. An extensive bibliography, concise biographies of the poets, and a glossary of literary terms are included. Students of French and of comparative literature will gain a deeper understanding of the development of French verse and of the artistic movements (especially in the visual arts) which have shaped twentieth-century French poetry.