Product Description

Coleridge's celebrated poem was written at the suggestion of William Wordsworth in the early days of their friendship, and published for the first time in 1798. It is the story of a nightmare voyage to the South Pole told by the sole survivor, the bright-eyed ancient mariner whose wanton killing of an albatross, a bird of good omen, brought misfortune on the ship and all its crew. Coleridge's own commentary on the fateful drama, written some years later at a time of renewed religious feeling, is printed alongside the poem. The poem is brilliantly illustrated with a sequence of specially commissioned drawings by Mervyn Peake. His powerful, arresting images perfectly express the qualities of the text, its gothic atmosphere and supernatural terrors, ultimately softened by pity and the hope of redemption.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1727164 in Books
• Published on: 1991-04
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback

From the Publisher
With illustrations by Mervyn Peake
With a new introduction by Marina Warner

About the Author
Samuel Taylor Coleridge, one of the most imaginative poets of the English Romantic Movement, was also its most influential thinker and philosopher. ' The Rime of the Ancient Mariner' was written early in his life, during a period of intense and impassioned creativity, and, like all his best work, has a visionary quality with strong religious and metaphysical overtones. Mervyn Peake was born in 1911. He is perhaps most famous for the 'Gormenghast' trilogy which were published between 1946 and 1959 - Titus Groan, Gormenghast and Titus Alone. He has also written a book for children, Captain Slaughterboard Drops Anchor and several volumes of poetry. His striking originality as an artist brought him renown as an illustrator of books such as Alice in Wonderland, The Hunting of the Snark and Treasure Island. He died in 1968

Customer Reviews

"Water, water everywhere...
And all the boards did shrink. Water, water, everywhere, nor any drop to drink." These famous lines, like the opening lines of Coleridge's Kubla Khan, are often quoted, but I sometimes wonder if the people who quote them have read this wonderful poem. The poem is full of mystery and horror, from the Mariner stopping the wedding guest, to the incident w/ the albatros, to the gambling of Death and Death-In-Life... I could go on and on. The language is so rich, and the poet's comments make the content more clear for anyone who becomes confused. The illustrations of this edition are beautiful and definately complement the text. This is a haunting poem that you will want to read again and again. If you have not read it before, do yourself a favor and find a copy.

The Mariner as the spitting image of doubt
I've just stumbled into "The Rhyme" by hearing an Heavy Metal song (Iron Maiden's Rhyme Of The Ancient Mariner), it's not much of an approach to British Classical Poetry but it was a beginning. I'd really liked the strieving of the poor man that lived on a tragedy like the death of his mates, and all for his own fault. The obvious drift to everyday life's doubt is clear, I still have to understand the bird's meaning.. I didn't liked the Italian translation so I've re-written it in Italian, with a lot of effort, it's strange how it resembles Dante's Divina Comedia, it has all the same features, God, The Evil, Death, Blood, Sweat and Tears. At the end of the day a pleasant companion for your sleepless night, Thank you Sam !

The poetry devine, the illustrations breathe taking
This is one of the finest books ever assembled. Coleridge is a master of the industry and the penned illustartion by Dore sever only to enhance this phenominal experience. [-SwM-]