John Lithgow has assembled a pleasurable tour of poetry in his six-cd presentation entitled The Poets’ Corner
(The One-and-Only Poetry Book for the Whole Family). Presented in alphabetical order, the collection spans
the ages and includes fifty of the best know poets of all time. Lithgow usually has one poem read and discussed
by each poet, but in some cases as many as three poems will be read. By choosing only fifty poets, Lithgow is by
necessity forced to omit a great number of great poets and their works.
Lithgow gets his listener ready for the poems in his introduction by explaining how poetry became a big part
of his life and how poetry is a part of all of us, whether it be nursery rhymes, playground chats or serious
poets. Lithgow has chosen a wide range of poems from such nonsense poets as Edward Lear, to the classic Edmund
Spenser and his Faerie Queen.
In most cases, Lithgow uses other readers to recite the poems, but on a few occasions he does the reading
himself. The real essence of the collection, however, is the introduction and insights he gives for each poet.
His comments on the poems enrich our understanding of the poems and lets us see how one person reacts to a piece
of art.
This collection could be very useful in literature classes to let students see the importance of poetry and
how it is part of us whether we recognize it or not. A delightful collection for easy listening as you travel
about each day.