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I almost always enjoy anthologies of this nature, which allow me to sample poetry from a range of time periods, countries, and literary traditions, and combine the opportunity to revisit old favourites with discovery of new ones.

“The Rattle Bag�� provides just such an experience, and I found it enjoyable. I’m somewhat frustrated, however, by the editors failure to provide a clear explanation of their criteria for selecting poems to include in this collection. The preponderance of nature (and particularly animal) poems, as well as the typically earthy, tactile nature of other selections, make me feel that Hughes and Heaney have simply chosen poems that appeal to their own poetic sensibilities. I don’t mind this, but I wish they had been more explicit about the decision.

While I enjoyed this anthology overall, I’m conscious that my own collection of personal favourite poems would look very different to Hughes�� and Heaney’s. I’m eager to try Carol Ann Duffy’s anthology, “The Map and the Clock�� soon, which I suspect may be more to my taste.