Poetical Works of Akenside   By: Mark Akenside (1721-1770)

In the Poetical Works of Akenside, Mark Akenside exhibits his mastery of language and his deep understanding of human emotions. This compilation of his poems showcases his immense talent and provides a captivating reading experience.

Akenside's work transports the reader to the realms of imagination, engaging them with his vivid descriptions and captivating imagery. Through his use of poetic devices, such as metaphors and personification, he breathes life into his verses, making them resonate with meaning and emotion. Each line is carefully crafted, carrying a profound message that lingers in the reader's mind long after the poem has been read.

One of Akenside's most remarkable qualities is his ability to deeply explore the human condition. In his poems, he delves into various themes, including love, nature, and morality, exploring the complexities of these subjects with great depth and insight. His exploration of love is particularly captivating, as he explores both its beauty and its capacity to bring both joy and sorrow. Through his verses, readers are certain to experience a profound emotional journey.

Furthermore, the Poetical Works of Akenside also showcases the poet's philosophical musings. Akenside effortlessly weaves profound contemplations about life, existence, and the universe into his poems, leaving readers pensive and reflective. These philosophical elements add an intellectual depth to his work, elevating it beyond mere entertainment and making it a thought-provoking experience.

While the language employed by Akenside can be flowery and elaborate at times, it only adds to the lyrical beauty of his verses. However, readers who prefer more concise and straightforward language may find themselves occasionally overwhelmed by his intricate and elaborate writing style. Nevertheless, those who appreciate the artistry of language and the power of words will undoubtedly find themselves engrossed in the intricate tapestry of Akenside's poetic world.

In conclusion, the Poetical Works of Akenside by Mark Akenside is a treasure trove of poetic brilliance. From his rich descriptions and captivating imagery to his exploration of the human condition and philosophical musings, Akenside's poems leave an indelible mark on the reader's mind and heart. This collection is a testament to the enduring power of poetry and the ability of words to transcend time and touch the very essence of our beings.

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Mark Akenside was born at Newcastle upon Tyne on the 9th of November 1721. His family were Presbyterian Dissenters, and on the 30th of that month he was baptized in the meeting, then held in Hanover Square, by a Mr. Benjamin Bennet. His father, Mark, was a butcher in respectable circumstances his mother's name was Mary Lumsden. There may seem something grotesque in finding the author of the "Pleasures of Imagination" born in a place usually thought so anti poetical as a butcher's shop. And yet similar anomalies abound in the histories of men of genius. Henry Kirke White, too, was a butcher's son, and for some time carried his father's basket. The late Thomas Atkinson, a very clever littérateur of the West of Scotland, was also what the Scotch call a "flesher's" son. The case of Cardinal Wolsey is well known. Indeed, we do not understand why any decent calling should be inimical to the existence however it may be to the adequate development of genius. That is a spark of supernal inspiration, lighting where it pleases, often conforming, and always striving to conform, circumstances to itself, and sometimes even strengthened and purified by the contradictions it meets in life. Nay, genius has sprung up in stranger quarters than in butcher's shops or tailor's attics it has lived and nourished in the dens of robbers, and in the gross and fetid atmosphere of taverns... Continue reading book >>