A Cluster of Grapes / A Book of Twentieth Century Poetry

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

21649

Title

A Cluster of Grapes / A Book of Twentieth Century Poetry

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

A Cluster of Grapes presents a diverse anthology of twentieth-century poetry, curated by Galloway Kyle to showcase the finest lyric work of the era. Rejecting rigid classification, this collection invites readers into a 'faire vineyard' of verse by living writers, offering a rich tapestry of emotion, imagination, and spiritual reflection without imposing arbitrary labels or judgments on the poets.

Summary up to 500 words

Compiled by Galloway Kyle in 1914, *A Cluster of Grapes* stands as an unpretentious anthology designed to offer readers a direct engagement with the poetry of the twentieth century. Deliberately avoiding arbitrary classification or the assertion of literary superiority, the volume presents a simple scheme featuring works exclusively by living writers to represent the poetry of the day. The collection spans a vast emotional and thematic range, moving seamlessly from the pastoral and mystical to the urban and the tragic. The anthology captures the diversity of the period through contributions from renowned figures such as Thomas Hardy, Arthur Christopher Benson, John Galsworthy, and Stephen Phillips. Hardy's inclusion features his tragic *A Trampwoman's Tragedy*, which details a fatal misunderstanding and its haunting aftermath, alongside his epic chorus from *The Dynasts*. The volume also highlights the spiritual introspection found in Evelyn Underhill's *Immanence* and *Introversion*, as well as G.K. Chesterton's seasonal sonnets and Dora Sigerson Shorter's eerie *The Watcher in the Wood*. Other notable pieces include the melancholic *Babylon* by an anonymous contributor, Arthur Symons' *Tanagra*, and the haunting *The Changeling* by Margaret L. Woods. The book's preface, quoting Sir Philip Sidney, frames the collection as a "fair vineyard" offering a "cluster of grapes" to entice readers further into the art. The selections are not the reflex of one individual's taste but were made by the writers themselves, ensuring a diverse representation without editorial interference or dogmatic assertion. By including only works produced during the present century, the anthology justifies its existence as a representative sample of contemporary verse, offering a "lure immortal" for discriminating lovers of high poetry without blurring the margins with obscure definitions or interpretations.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

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Categories

• Poetry