Chapter II: Preface

The material in this volume originally appeared in _The Bookman_, 1917-1918. It is now published with much addition and revision.

The Great War has had a stimulating effect on the production of poetry. Professional poets have been spokesmen for the inarticulate, and a host of hitherto unknown writers have acquired reputation. An immense amount of verse has been written by soldiers in active service. The Allies are fighting for human liberty, and this Idea is an inspiration. It is comforting to know that some who have made the supreme sacrifice will be remembered through their printed poems, and it is a pleasure to aid in giving them public recognition.

Furthermore, the war, undertaken by Germany to dominate the world by crushing the power of Great Britain, has united all English-speaking people as nothing else could have done. In this book, all poetry written in the English language is considered as belonging to English literature.

It should be apparent that I am not a sectarian in art, but am thankful for poetry wherever I find it. I have endeavored to make clear the artistic, intellectual, and spiritual significance of many of our contemporary English-writing poets. The difficulties of such an undertaking are obvious; but there are two standards of measure. One is the literature of the past, the other is the life of today. I judge every new poet by these.

CONTENTS

I SOME CONTRASTS--HENLEY, THOMPSON, HARDY, KIPLING

II PHILLIPS, WATSON, NOYES, HOUSMAN

III JOHN MASEFIELD

IV GIBSON AND HODGSON

V BROOKE, FLECKER, DE LA MARE, AND OTHERS

VI THE IRISH POETS

VII AMERICAN VETERANS AND FORERUNNERS

VIII VACHEL LINDSAY AND ROBERT FROST

IX AMY LOWELL, ANNA BRANCH, EDGAR LEE MASTERS, LOUIS UNTERMEYER

X SARA TEASDALE, ALAN SEEGER, AND OTHERS

XI A GROUP OF YALE POETS

APPENDIX

INDEX

THE ADVANCE OF ENGLISH POETRY IN THE TWENTIETH CENTURY