The New Cratylus: Notes On The Craft Of Poetry

Condition remarks:
Book: Good
Jacket: Worn/faded, no tears
Pages: Good
Markings: Fair - Bumping on spine and corners. Rubbed edges.

A landmark work of literary criticism and poetic theory, The New Cratylus: Notes on the Craft of Poetry presents the rigorous and erudite reflections of one of Australia's most celebrated poets on the nature, function, and discipline of verse. Drawing its title from Plato's dialogue on language and meaning, the work argues that poetry is not mere self-expression but a precise and demanding craft governed by formal principles and the deep structures of language itself. With the authority of a practicing master, Hope instructs readers on prosody, diction, and the relationship between sound and sense, illustrating his points with close readings of both classical and modern verse. The tone throughout is intellectually commanding yet deeply passionate, reflecting a poet who regards the making of poetry as a serious moral and aesthetic vocation. Essential reading for poets, scholars, and serious students of literature, this collection of essays stands as a definitive statement on the enduring power of formal poetry in the modern age.