Title: Power, plain English, and the rise of modern poetry
Description: "In this book David Rosen offers a new account of Modern poetry and revises our understanding of its relation to Romanticism. British poets from Wordsworth to Auden attempted to present themselves simultaneously as persons of power and as moral voices in their communities. The modern lyric derives its characteristic complexities - psychological, ethical, formal - from the extraordinary difficulty of this effort." "The low register of our language - a register of short, concrete, native words arranged together in simple syntax - is deeply implicated in this story. Rosen shows how the peculiar reputation of "plain English" for truthfulness is employed by Modern poets to conceal the rift between their (probably irreconcilable) ambitions for themselves.".

"With a deep appreciation for poetic accomplishment and a wonderful iconoclasm, Rosen sheds new light on the innovative as well as the self-deceptive aspects of Modern poetry. This book alters our understanding of the history of poetry in the English language."--BOOK JACKET.
Subjects: Criticism and interpretation, English language, English poetry, History and criticism, Influence, Style, Eliot, t. s. (thomas stearns), 1888-1965, Yeats, w. b. (william butler), 1865-1939, Auden, w. h. (wystan hugh), 1907-1973, Wordsworth, william, 1770-1850, Locke, john, 1632-1704, English poetry, history and criticism, 20th century, English poetry, history and criticism, 19th century, English language, style
People: John Locke (1632-1704), T. S. Eliot (1888-1965), W. B. Yeats (1865-1939), W. H. Auden (1907-1973), William Wordsworth (1770-1850)
Time periods: 19th century, 20th century