The Book of Forms: A Handbook of
Poetics,
Including Odd and Invented Forms,
Revised and Expanded Edition
by Lewis Putnam Turco,
Hanover, NH: University Press of
New England,
2012
ISBN: 978-1-61168-035-5
Reference & Bibliography /
Poetry
Paper, 384 pp. 3 illus. 5 x 7
1/2"
$27.95
Buy this book at
Amazon.com
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Lewis Turco's, The Book of
Forms,
has been the mainstay, the bread and
butter, of poets, students and teachers
for four decades. This latest
revision includes odd and invented forms
as well as new information on "Rules of
Scansion" for English, and detailed
information on the "levels" of poetry.
Further, it clarifies rhythm, cadence
and meter and has a "Form Finder
Index," with lots of sub-divisions, that
make it easy for the reader to locate a
form specifically or generally.
For example, under the category of
"specific forms," you can find a one
line form and, if you're in the
mood, work your way up to a two
hundred and ten-line form.
This 384 page reference book is
comprehensive, including items such as
descort and dipthong rhyme,
the rocking foot, the short rocking
foot and the long rocking foot,
slam poetry, ovilejo and
spatial prosody. If you are a
poet or a teacher and don't know what
these are, you need this book!
This latest edition includes forms not
included in previous editions, for
example: Berryman's Dreamsong
form and the dorsimbra form,
as well as the torno of Rhina
Espaillat.
The late poet and critic James Dickey
wrote that this book “Belongs in the
hands of every poet, student, and
teacher, for the greater good of the
art.”
I agree.
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—Mary Ann Sullivan
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