7 Themes In Modern Verse

In the hallowed halls of poetic analysis, where words pirouette and rhyme revels in its own cleverness, Maurice Wollman’s "7 Themes In Modern Verse" emerges like a slightly damp tea towel at a posh garden party. Published in the swinging 1970s by George & Harrap—an era when bell bottoms and free love were all the rage, and poetry was not yet relegated to the dusty corners of university libraries—Wollman’s treatise stands as both a tribute and a bemused commentary on the state of verse, like a whimsical cat in a room full of laser pointers.

Includes quite extensive annotations my by previous readers. However, most of it is in pencils so you can correct them.

Now, you might wonder: what themes could possibly warrant an entire book? Well, prepare your literary goggles, as Wollman takes us on a cheeky jaunt through the labyrinth of modern poetics. You might encounter themes that are as old as time—love, loss, and longing, perhaps—but don’t be fooled! This is modern verse we’re talking about. Expect the unexpected, like a poet trying to pen an ode to the postbox while contemplating existential dread. Who knew a simple mailbox could inspire such fervour?

Wollman’s keen eye for detail and a penchant for the absurd ensures that each theme is not merely a bland bullet point on a PowerPoint slide of boredom. Instead, they are presented like an odd assortment of mismatched socks: each one telling its own peculiar story while simultaneously raising an eyebrow at the others. The reader might find themselves pondering whether "The Theme of Alienation" could actually be about someone forgetting to RSVP to a dinner party, or if "The Theme of Nature" is merely a roundabout way of writing about weeds in the garden.

As you flip through the pages, expect some delightful surprises. Wollman’s prose is as inviting as the local pub on a rainy Tuesday, where the warm ale flows freely, and the philosophical debates are as lively as they are nonsensical. “Is a verse truly modern if it doesn’t mention a microwave?” he might ask, nudging you to reconsider your hasty judgments about what constitutes ‘modern’ in the world of verse.

But wait! There’s more. Wollman doesn’t just list themes; he provides a veritable buffet of poetic devices, metaphors, and similes that are as varied as your favourite selection of crisps. Every chapter is a new flavour, and as you partake in this literary feast, you might find yourself experiencing a delightful sense of déjà vu—a feeling that you’ve been here before, perhaps while perusing the poetry section at a thrift store.

Condition: Good, though this book has clearly been loved—a bit dog-eared, perhaps, with annotations from past owners who clearly had lots of thoughts about the themes that haunted them. The cover may bear witness to a time when it was inadvertently used as a coaster for someone’s deeply philosophical cup of Earl Grey, but let’s be honest: a few tea stains add character, right? The pages are intact, though a bit yellowed, hinting at the countless evenings spent in dimly lit rooms, contemplating the nature of verse and whether it could one day explain the mysteries of the universe.

So, if you fancy a literary romp through the mind of a poet-turned-analyst who seems to be having a bit of a laugh at the whole thing, "7 Themes In Modern Verse" is your ticket to a whimsical exploration of modernity and its many quirks. Who knows? You might even come away with a new appreciation for the poetic grandeur that lurks beneath the surface of ordinary life, or at the very least, a few chuckles at Wollman’s sardonic wit.

Take a chance on this relic of poetic inquiry, a book that has seen better days but still carries the weight of its author’s quirky observations. Available now from Crappy Old Books, where every purchase is a leap of faith into the unknown realms of literary adventure.

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