A chronological arrangement of the 500 greatest poems in English- -the poems most frequently included in authorlogies in the 9th edition of The Columbia Granger's index to poetry. With a succinct biographical sketch of each poet and brief comments on each poem.

"Based on the original edition by William Flint Thrall and Addison Hibbard." Alphabetic entries define, explain, and illustrate terms associated with American and English literature.

Collection of poems that have appealed most often to 400 contemporary editors, critics, and poets for inclusion in their own anthologies.