Text similar to 'the Ballad of Reading Gaol'

[phillipgr]

Recently I read 'The Ballad of Reading Gaol' by Oscar Wilde and I throughly enjoyed it. It was the first lengthy poem I have read. I am currently to reading Inferno and also enjoying it. I'm looking to read something similar to the Ballad. Any suggestions?

[dfloyd]

which was published in the 30s. It has illustrations by Zhenya Gay, a prominent book illustrator of the 30s. These illustrations have an art deco flair which reminds me of the movie Metropolis which depicted the dehumanizing of workers. The illustrator here does the same thing with the denizens of Reading Gaol. The insides of the book, illustratons and text block, are in Fine condition, but the binding is rubbed and the sheepskin leather is worn through at the corners. So now I am having the book rebound in one of the superior leathers used today: full Nigerian goatskin in black to suit the sombre mood of the poem.

When you ask about works similar to 'Ballad', I don't know whether you mean poems about prison life or just those which tell a story. If you are looking for longer poems which relate a story, try the classic Eugene Onegin by Pushkin which is a complete novel in verse. Or The Rime of the Ancient Mariner by Coleridge, a much shorter poem.

[phillipgr]

Interesting.

Sorry, I should have been more explicit. I didn't mean similar in the specifics of the story, rather, length and style. So something not of epic proportion rather around the 25 page mark - in verse. I'll look into the Coleridge text, thank you.

[LitNetIsGreat]

I was going to suggest the Ancient Mariner as well. Some think that Wilde intentionally drew from Coleridge's piece for The Ballad of Reading Gaol too which does indeed seem likely.

[dfloyd]

I've always supposed that Wilde wrote 'Ballad' while in prison, but in looking it up, I find he wrote it in France after serving his term.

Want to see a beautiful Rime of the Ancient Mariner? Check out the recently published Coleridge poem, along with a few other of Coleridge's items like Kubla Khan, on the London based Folio Society website. Only problem is the book costs $950 US. If you love books never marry.

[dfloyd]

I've always supposed that Wilde wrote 'Ballad' while in prison, but in looking it up, I find he wrote it in France after serving his term.

Want to see a beautiful Rime of the Ancient Mariner? Check out the recently published Coleridge poem, along with a few other of Coleridge's items like Kubla Khan, on the London based Folio Society website. Only problem is the book costs $950 US. If you love books, never marry.

[LitNetIsGreat]

Yes I think he had the idea while in prison but it was composed about two months after his release. It says in Ellmann:

By 8 July Wilde had started on the Ballad and by 20 July it was, he thought, nearly finished. He was to revise it with Ross's help in August, and to expand it later. The length of the poem was necessary, he said, to shake confidence in the penal system; he knew it must fall between poetry and propaganda, but he prepared to face some artistic imperfection for the sake of changing what was intolerable.

He did struggle with finishing off the poem and spent more time with the final details of it. He says in a letter dated 22 September "My poem I have not sent off, and I find it difficult to recapture the mood and manner of its inception. It seems alien to me now - real passions so soon become unreal - Still, it must be finished. Then I turn to the Drama".

Of course, he never did get round to writing anything else after this point despite the urgings of his friends, he had no temper for it at all.

[JamesRhodes]

Roan Stallion by Robinson Jeffers is a good 20th Century example. Though if you're willing to read a little more, Such Councils you Gave to Me (also by Jeffers) is written in the traditional ballad format (though not in traditional verse).

[phillipgr]

Read 'the Rime of the ancient Mariner' today, loved it!
It does seem very likely that Wilde drew fromt this poem, it does bare similarites.
Thanks for the suggestions - plan to look into the others two.

[Wilde woman]

Isn't Reading Gaol wonderful? I was so moved when I read it.

If you like short narrative poems, try Alfred Noyes' "The Highwayman." And you might like Tennyson as well. Check out "Ulysses" or "The Lady of Shallott."

[JamesRhodes]

You might want to pick up The World's Wife by Carol Ann Duffy, it is pretty much all short narratives (though not really comparable to Wilde in my opinion).

[prendrelemick]

I don't know if it is the poetry or the drama of the story you like. There is always Hiawatha, not very dramatic but it rattles along nicely.

[phillipgr]

Thanks everyone for your help, it is much appreciated :)
I look forward to working my way through all your suggestions.

Prendrelemick, I like both the poetry and the dramatic/narative aspect of it. Thanks

[les cole]

You could read "One Hundred And Three" by Henry Lawson. It's quite similar to The Ballad Of Reading Gaol, although a lot shorter and not as good. You could also read 'The Ballad Of Winchester Jail' , which i wrote whilst in Winchester Prison.