I definitely prefer the more modern poetry. ( )

100 Favorite English and Irish Poems is a rare find. An inexpensive book that sticks to, and I think accomplishes, its goal - to provide a starting point for exploring English and Irish poetry. No more; no less. The poems are arranged chronologically based on the individual author's birth year. There is a brief explanation of each author's inspiration for the selected poems, and a little information about author themselves.

Aside from 2 or 3 days in second grade when my teacher taught the class about haiku, none of my K through 12th grade teachers saw fit to have their students study poetry. I did not take any poetry classes in college. For me, with no foundation in poetry, this book is a good start. Very limited, with a very narrow focus, but a starting point. I know that the selection of poetry, and poets, in this book is an infinitesimal representation of the world of poetry, and poets.

I'd like to see Dover publish a "Favorite Poems" series that covers many more cultures, and ethnicities. ( )