The fire of joy : roughly 80 poems to get by heart and say aloud

Essentially, this is Clive James' desert island poems: a selection of his favourite verse and a personal commentary on each. The Fire of Joy was the final book Clive James completed before his death in 2019. It takes its title from the French expression Feu de Joie, which refers to a military celebration when all the riflemen of a regiment fire one shot after another in a wave of continuous sound: it is a reminder that the regiment's collective power relies on the individual, and vice versa. In this book, James has chosen a succession of English poems, exploding in sequence from Chaucer to the present day; they tell the story of someone writing something wonderful, and someone else coming along, reading it, and feeling impelled to write something even more wonderful. After a lifetime, these are the poems James found so good that he remembered them despite himself. In offering them to you, the main purpose of this book is to provide ammunition that will satisfy your urge to discover, learn and declaim verse. As well as his selection of poems, James offers a commentary on each: whether this is a biographical, historical or critical introduction to the poem, or a more personal anecdote about the role a particular poem has played in James's life, these mini essays provide the joy of James's enthusiasm and the benefit of his knowledge. Full of the flashing fires of poems you will not be able to forget, this book will ignite your passion and leave you with a contagious crackle rattling in your ears Clive James read, learned and recited poetry aloud for most of his life. In this, the last book he completed before his death, the much-loved poet, broadcaster and author offers a selection of his favourite poems and a personal commentary on each. In the last months of his life, his vision impaired by surgery and unable to read, Clive James explored the treasure-house of his mind: the poems he knew best, so good that he didn't just remember them, he found them impossible to forget. The Fire of Joy is the record of this final journey of recollection and celebration. Enthralled by poetry all his life, James knew hundreds of poems by heart. In offering this selection of his favourites, a succession of poems from the sixteenth century to the present, his aim is to inspire you to discover and to learn, and perhaps even to speak poetry aloud. In his highly personal anthology, James offers a commentary on each of the eighty or so poems: sometimes a historical or critical note on the poem or its author, sometimes a technical point about the poem's construction from someone who was himself a poet, sometimes a personal anecdote about the role the poem played in his own life. Whether you're familiar with a poem or not – whether you're familiar with poetry in general or not – these chatty, unpretentious, often tender mini-essays convey the joy of James's enthusiasm and the benefit of his knowledge. His urgent wish was to share with a new generation what he himself had loved. This is a book to be read cover to cover or dipped into: either way it generously opens up a world for our delight. 'Clive James's joyous farewell . . . from Thomas Wyatt to Carol Ann Duffy' – Guardian , Best Poetry of 2020 Clive James (1939–2019) was a broadcaster, critic, poet, memoirist and novelist. His acclaimed poetry includes the collection Sentenced to Life and a translation of Dante's The Divine Comedy , both Sunday Times bestsellers. Clive James Read, Learned And Recited Poetry Aloud For Most Of His Life. In This Book, Completed Before Just Before His Death, He Offers A Selection Of His Favourite Poems And A Personal Commentary On Each. In The Last Months Of His Life, His Vision Impaired By Surgery And Unable To Read, Clive James Explored The Treasure-house Of His Mind: The Poems He Knew Best, So Good That He Didn’t Just Remember Them, He Found Them Impossible To Forget. The Fire Of Joy Is The Record Of This Final Journey Of Recollection And Celebration. Enthralled By Poetry All His Life, James Knew Hundreds Of Poems By Heart. In Offering This Selection Of His Favourites, A Succession Of Poems From The Sixteenth Century To The Present, His Aim Is To Inspire You To Discover And To Learn, And Perhaps Even To Speak Poetry Aloud. In His Highly Personal Anthology, James Offers A Commentary On Each Of The Eighty Or So Poems: Sometimes A Historical Or Critical Note On The Poem Or Its Author, Sometimes A Technical Point About The Poem’s Construction From Someone Who Was Himself A Poet, Sometimes A Personal Anecdote About The Role The Poem Played In His Own Life. Whether You’re Familiar With A Poem Or Not — Whether You’re Familiar With Poetry In General Or Not — These Chatty, Unpretentious, Often Tender Mini-essays Convey The Joy Of James’s Enthusiasm And The Benefit Of His Knowledge. His Urgent Wish Was To Share With A New Generation What He Himself Had Loved. This Is A Book To Be Read Cover To Cover Or Dipped Into: Either Way It Generously Opens Up A World For Our Delight.