Introduction to French Poetry - (Dover Dual Language French) by Stanley Appelbaum (Paperback)

This comprehensive anthology of French poetry is a must-have for any literature lover or student of French culture.

With works by 30 of France's most influential poets, spanning from the mid-15th century to modern times, this book provides a unique insight into the development of French poetry.

The collection includes famous names such as Villon, Ronsard, Voltaire, Mallarmé, Verlaine, and Apollinaire, alongside lesser-known but equally important poets like Scève, Saint-Amant, and Malherbe. The book features clear prose translations on facing pages, allowing readers to easily compare the original French text with its English translation.

The translator's goal is to lead readers to a full appreciation of each poem as it was written, rather than attempting to recreate the poem in English. In addition to the poems themselves, the book includes an introductory essay that provides a concise summary of the formal aspects of versification in French poetry, as well as biographical and critical essays on each poet and their work.

This comprehensive approach makes the anthology an invaluable resource for anyone interested in understanding the evolution of French poetry and its most important practitioners.