Review - 100 Poems: Old and New

Disclaimer:  I received this book free from Cambridge University Press in exchange for an honest review.  I did not receive any form of compensation.

One thing that I have always loved was good poetry.  I have been forever fascinated by the way in which ancient wordsmiths could spin phrases into such beautiful verses.  This book showcases Rudyard Kiplings talent in a way that no other can.

100 Poems:  Old and New houses 25 old well loved verses as well as 75 that had only been published once or twice in the past.  Most of the 75 "new" poems have not been seen in decades.  Many vanished with the magazines of yore.

There were so many wonderful poems in this book that it was very hard to choose a favorite amongst them.  I know that I absolutely loved the poem entitled "The King".  This showcases how too many times we, as a collective whole, spend our time looking back towards days gone by instead of focusing on the shiny and new days we are experiencing now.  Kipling reminds us that even though we may be leaving something behind (such as in the poem leaving behind spears for swords) we are gaining something in exchange.

Also, while reading through the "old" poems that have been well read by most people at one time or another, you will see many phrases that have become common place.  It is surprising how poems that were written between 1882 to 1935.

Make sure to read the sources section as well.  Some alternate stanzas and other interesting information about the poems can be found there.  In a way, it would have been nice to have that one the same page as the poem itself instead of in another section altogether.  I can completely understand why Thomas Pinney would have wanted to leave them in a separate section so as not to interfere with the words of Kipling.  However, I really felt that it added a great deal towards the reading of the poems.  I hadn't discovered it until after I had already read through the poems.  Those little tidbits actually would enhance the experience of reading the poems instead of detracting.  However, that is just my opinion.