A guide to the arts of reading, analysing and enjoying poetry. While emphasising the importance of close textual analysis - or reading in slow motion - it demonstrates how an understanding of form, language and context can combine to produce sophisticated and original responses to all types of poetry.

Second edition.

"Reading Poetry stands out from other introductions to poetry in its brilliant combination of practical guidance and theoretical savvy. Students who use this book will be helped to enjoy and discuss poems, introduced to some of the major varieties of poetic criticism, and invited to reflect on what makes poetry important today. Reading Poetry is, in my view, the best introductory book on the study of poetry available. " - Professor Derek Attridge, Universityof York