Wordsworth's Classical Undersong

Wordsworth's classical education presents an amazing paradox: gifted teachers trained him in the full rigors of classical Latin and Greek, but his schoolmasters were committed to the Classics and to modern literature. Through them, Wordsworth developed a profound love for the Classics and thus an enlightened zeal for a new poetry, a poetry capable of being compared with and even daring to compete with the classical texts he so dearly loved. Richard Clancey's meticulously researched study presents new biographical information on Wordsworth's classical education and new facts about the education of his teachers.

Clancey's (English literature, John Carrol University) meticulously researched study presents new biographical information on Wordsworth's education and new facts about the education of his teachers. It also considers the influence the classical focus of his education had on his own poetry, especially the . Special attention is given to his teacher's insistence that both classical and contemporary literature be represented in the curriculum. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR

European Romantic Review

Clancey has given us a book that has real virtues...

Richard W. Clancey teaches English Literature at John Carroll University.