The Poets' Corner

The One-and-Only Poetry Book for the Whole Family

De: John Lithgow

Narrado por: John Lithgow

From listening to his grandmother recite epic poems from memory to curling up in bed while his father read funny verses, award-winning actor John Lithgow grew up with poetry. Ever since, John has been an enthusiastic seeker of poetic experience, whether reading, reciting, or listening to great poems.

The wide variety of carefully selected poems in this book provides the perfect introduction to appeal to readers new to poetry, and for poetry lovers to experience beloved verses in a fresh, vivid way. William Blake, Emily Dickinson, Edgar Allan Poe, and Dylan Thomas are just a few names among Lithgow's comprehensive list of poetry masters. His essential criterion is that "each poem's light shines more brightly when read aloud." This unique package provides a multimedia poetry experience with a bonus MP3 CD of revelatory poetry readings by John and the familiar voices of such notable performers as Eileen Atkins, Kathy Bates, Glenn Close, Billy Connolly, Jodie Foster, Morgan Freeman, Helen Mirren, Lynn Redgrave, Susan Sarandon, Gary Sinise, and Sam Waterston.

Every reader will enjoy reciting or listening to these poems with the entire family, appreciating how each one comes to life through the spoken word in this superlative poetry collection.

Insightful collection and distinguished reading

Profoundly satisfying, the poems are read beautifully, and the short biographies are thoroughly entertaining! Throughout, some poems are accompanied by their history, while others are presented in context with the history of the poet. I have listened to this audiobook several times, and will continue to do so into the future. Occasionally John Lithgow decides to read a poem himself, and these readings are generally my favourite. One of the few exceptions is the beggar to Mab, the Fairie Queen.

I can easily recommend this collection of poems to anyone.

VOICE AND MANNER

There is something about the voice and manner of John Lithgow that burns brightly in one’s imagination. Maybe it is the serious and comic ability of his Broadway and television presence or an underlying sense of knowing that he knows more than you when he speaks his memorized lines. “The Poets’ Corner” confirms all three; i.e. Lithgow is everything you expect. He is serious. He is comic, and he knows more than you know.

Of course the Poets’ Corner is a location in Westminster Abbey dedicated to famous poets, playwrights, and writers. Some of the poets in Lithgow’s book are memorialized in the Abbey. But Lithgow’s choice of inclusion is not limited to the Westminster’ scions of poetry. Lithgow lists poets by the alphabet and offers a thumbnail biography of each. He participates and enlists great, and near-great actors to read the poems. The result is magically delicious.

A listener enjoys Lithgow’s fascinating assembly of poets; whether admirer, critic, or amateur.

Exactly what I hoped for…

Bias: love John Lithgow & Co. & words.

I suppose this is a book with lovely words favored by J. Lithgow with a delightful short history & background for each piece of poetry or spoken word. I was fortunate enough to snag this on 5.00$ sale, but tis worth 1 credit or full price.

wonderful cast reading

John Lithgow is the perfect tour guide to this lovely collection, filling the space between beautifully read poetry with insight, facts and vignettes, most often reading another selected poem by each author himself. do yourself the favor of owning this amazing title.

Love this book.

I’ve discovered the joy of listening to poetry. This book includes a wide range of poetry with a short introduction of each poet, John’s voice is mesmerizing and the quality of the other reader’s voices add to the enjoyment of listening to this book.