The New Oxford Book of Light Verse

The New Oxford Book of Light Verse is a significant poetry anthology edited by the renowned novelist and poet Kingsley Amis and published by Oxford University Press in 1978. It serves as a modern successor to the original 1938 collection compiled by W. H. Auden, offering a revised and expanded perspective on the genre. The anthology is celebrated for its broad, often irreverent selection that challenges traditional definitions of light verse, incorporating everything from medieval riddles to contemporary satire. Amis's editorial approach reflects his own literary sensibilities, favoring wit, formal skill, and accessibility over mere frivolity.

Overview and Editorial Vision

The project was conceived as a direct response and update to the earlier volume edited by W. H. Auden, which Amis felt had become dated and overly narrow in its scope. Commissioned by Oxford University Press, Amis brought a distinctly mid-20th century, often anti-modernist perspective to the task, championing clarity, humor, and technical mastery. His vision was to create an anthology that was genuinely entertaining and reflective of a wider social spectrum, moving beyond the drawing-room wit often associated with the genre. The collection deliberately includes work from anonymous medieval poets, William Shakespeare, and John Skelton alongside modern figures, framing light verse as a durable, popular tradition rather than a minor poetic mode. Amis's introduction is a manifesto of sorts, arguing for the value of verse that engages readers through intelligence and craft rather than obscurity or emotional weight.

Selection Criteria and Thematic Range

Amis applied broad and pragmatic criteria, defining light verse primarily as poetry that is "intended to amuse or entertain," while also demonstrating formal competence. This allowed for the inclusion of work with serious or even dark undercurrents, provided it was delivered with a deft touch. The thematic range is consequently vast, encompassing social satire, parody, epigrams, nonsense verse, love poems, and comic ballads. The anthology features poems about historical events like the English Civil War, literary parody targeting figures like William Wordsworth, and everyday subjects from domestic life to bureaucratic absurdity. Amis gave significant space to anonymous traditional verse, nursery rhymes, and folk songs, tracing the genre's roots in popular culture. This approach connects the sophisticated wit of John Betjeman with the street songs of London, presenting a democratized view of the form.

Notable Poets and Works Included

The anthology features a formidable roster of poets spanning six centuries, emphasizing Amis's preference for the Augustan and Victorian periods alongside the 20th century. Key figures from earlier centuries include Geoffrey Chaucer, John Dryden, Alexander Pope, Matthew Prior, and Winthrop Mackworth Praed. The 19th century is well-represented by Thomas Hood, W. S. Gilbert, Lewis Carroll, and Arthur Hugh Clough. Prominent 20th-century contributors include Hilaire Belloc, G. K. Chesterton, John Betjeman, W. H. Auden (despite Amis's critique of his editorial forebear), Philip Larkin, Gavin Ewart, and Ogden Nash. Notable works include Carroll's "Jabberwocky", Betjeman's "A Subaltern's Love Song", and Larkin's "This Be The Verse", the latter exemplifying Amis's inclusion of poems where a serious message is couched in wry, memorable language. The collection also highlights skilled parodists like Henry Reed and J. C. Squire.

Critical Reception and Legacy

Upon its release, the anthology received mixed but largely respectful reviews, with critics praising its comprehensiveness and scholarly heft while sometimes questioning Amis's idiosyncratic tastes and exclusion of certain modern poets. It was acknowledged as a more substantial and challenging volume than its predecessor, solidifying its place as a standard reference work and a key text in the study of comic and popular poetry. Its legacy lies in its successful expansion of the light verse canon, influencing subsequent anthologists and validating the academic study of humorous verse. The book remains in print and is frequently cited in discussions of poets like Betjeman and Larkin, highlighting the serious craft behind comic poetry. It stands as a major editorial achievement by Kingsley Amis, reflecting his critical ethos and contributing to the ongoing reappraisal of light verse as a vital literary tradition.

Comparison with The Oxford Book of Light Verse

The most immediate comparison is with the 1938 original anthology edited by W. H. Auden, which had a more politically and sociologically focused definition, linking light verse to periods of stable, shared social values. Amis's volume is notably larger, more historically deep, and less theoretically prescriptive, valuing literary quality and entertainment over Auden's socio-political framework. In terms of selection, Amis included far more pre-18th century material and 20th-century satire, while Auden favored ballads and gave greater prominence to poets like William Butler Yeats. Stylistically, Amis avoided the more earnest or whimsical poems Auden included, preferring sharper wit and formal precision. The two books together chart the evolving critical understanding of the genre across the 20th century, with Amis's edition representing a deliberate move away from modernism towards a more inclusive, skill-based appreciation of poetic entertainment.

Category:Poetry anthologies Category:1978 books Category:Oxford University Press books Category:Books edited by Kingsley Amis