Verse Novel Enthusiasts

[~Ji]

Are there other (other than me) verse novel enthusiasts out there?

I have read a number of the apparently better known verse novels ('Eugene Onegin'; 'The Golden Gate'; 'Fredy Neptune') and I have 'Autobiography of Red' on order, but I am looking for other examples. There seems to be a preponderance of more recent works classified as young adult literature - I am less interested in these.

I would also be interested in tracking down any anthologies of this form.

I am looking forward to developing a decent future reading list.

Ji

[YesNo]

I wonder if Ovid's Metamorphoses would qualify?

[blank|verse]

Hi, Ji.

A recent example you might like to look at is Time's Fool by the British poet Glyn Maxwell (http://www.picador.com/books/time-s-fool-a-tale-in-verse) (US: Houghton Mifflin, 2000; UK: Picador, 2001). (And just to be clear, the book is subtitled 'A Tale in Verse', so it is considered a work of fiction and not a long poem.)

It's a book that's little known and under-appreciated even amongst those interested in contemporary British poetry, which is a shame because it's a great achievement; it's written in terza rima as one of the influences behind the book is Dante's Inferno.

But, even as a fan of Maxwell's poetry, I'll admit it's no Eugene Onegin, although it seems to fit the requirement of your request, so it's worth looking into.

Hope that helps. b|v

[Dark Muse]

I have not read any of these novels other than Eugene Onegin but you might find this list helpful

https://www.goodreads.com/shelf/show/adult-verse-novels

Here is another list

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Verse_novel#Recent_examples

Also I do not know if you have already read it but Pale Fire by Vladimir Nabokov combines verse with prose.

[Eupalinos]

Certainly Walcott's Omeros, also terza rima for the most part.

[UlyssesE]

Not so much, but I loved Onegin. Any specific recommendations?

[~Ji]

Fredy Neptune by Australian Poet Les Murray is possibly my all time favorite book. I have been draw back to reread it on a number of occasions.
It is a truly epic read in roughly 300 pages of beautiful economic writing. A willing reader will become immersed in the rhythm of the writing.

[Whifflingpin]

"The Ring and the Book" Browning. A Victorian post-modern verse novel.