Oxford University Press - The Force of Poetry by Christopher Ricks

Explore the essence of literary analysis with The Force of Poetry by Christopher Ricks. Published by Oxford University Press, this collection brings together essays that examine how a poet's words reveal the true power of verse. Ricks, described by W. H. Auden as the kind of critic every poet dreams of finding, investigates the force that calls new power into being and animates matter. This volume covers a diverse range of poets, including John Gower, Marvell, Milton, Wordsworth, Empson, Stevie Smith, Lowell, and Larkin. Beyond specific poet studies, the book includes four wider essays addressing topics such as cliches, lies, and misquotations. It is an essential resource for readers interested in English literary criticism and the deep mechanics of poetic expression.