The sixteenth century saw the sonnet arrive in England, and with that, the sonnet sequence that would lead to Shakespeare’s collection of 154 sonnets about the ‘Fair Youth’ and ‘Dark Lady’. It was also the age of satirical poetry in the form of John Skelton’s poems, and narrative poetry – […]
The fourteenth century was, in many ways, the century in which English poetry truly arrived, with the work of Geoffrey Chaucer and the development of Middle English as a supple, vibrant language for vernacular poetry. In Italy, too, the language of the local, common people was used in verse by […]
Venice is a destination on many a bucket list, and the distinctive topography and geography of the city have made it a popular tourist attraction for centuries. And poets throughout the centuries have used Venice as a backdrop for their work, or have sung the city’s praises. So here are […]