The best poetry books, according to hackers
8 poetry books recommended in Hacker News comments over the past year, ranked by how many separate people recommend each one.
- Most recommendedThe Odyssey by Emily Wilson21 people recommend it
- Free and lovedParadise Lost by John Milton3 people recommend it
All poetry books
- The Odyssey by Emily WilsonRecommended as a readable, metrical verse translation that reads differently from Lattimore and Fagles. Critics say it drifts from Homer's sound and flattens the Greek's nuance.21recommend
- Gilgamesh by Simon ArmitageReaders find it fast-paced, well-written and entertaining, a revealing take on an ancient epic. Critics say it is more rewrite than translation and does not reflect the original Akkadian.11recommend
- The Iliad by HomerRecommended as one of the most important works of ancient literature, with a translation that reads easier than expected. Critics mainly object to oblique names.9recommend
- The Claudyssey by Claude Fable 5Recommended as a literal, line-for-line Odyssey translation with a closer rendering of Greek terms; critics say it mixes existing translations and reads awkwardly aloud.8recommend
- Beowulf: A New Translation by Maria Dahvana HeadleyPeople recommend this lively new translation of the Old English epic, which they find still speaks to the human condition. Critics say its kennings make it tedious.5recommend
- Paradise Lost by John MiltonRecommended for its dense, impressive verse, though one critic calls it unoriginal and derivative of the Bible.3recommend
- Autobiography of Red by Anne CarsonPeople recommend it for its fragmentary, mythic language that makes each word feel weighty and for its emotional impact; some say it is best read aloud.3recommend
- Spoon River Anthology by Edgar Lee MastersPeople recommend it for its structure of single-speaker epitaphs that piece together a town's story, and for capturing the American spirit.2recommend