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  • The Ode Less Travelled

  • Unlocking the Poet Within
  • By: Stephen Fry
  • Narrated by: Stephen Fry
  • Length: 9 hrs and 2 mins
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars (89 ratings)
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The Ode Less Travelled

By: Stephen Fry
Narrated by: Stephen Fry
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Summary

Stephen Fry believes that if you can speak and read English, you can write poetry. But it is no fun if you don't know where to start or have been led to believe that anything goes.

Stephen, who has long written poems, and indeed has written long poems, for his own private pleasure, invites you to discover the incomparable delights of metre, rhyme and verse forms.

Whether you want to write a Petrarchan sonnet for your lover's birthday, an epithalamion for your sister's wedding or a villanelle excoriating the government's housing policy, The Ode Less Travelled will give you the tools and the confidence to do so.

Brimful of enjoyable exercises, witty insights and simple step-by-step advice, The Ode Less Travelled guides the listener towards mastery and confidence in the Mother of the Arts.

©2005 Stephen Fry (P)2017 Random House AudioBooks

What listeners say about The Ode Less Travelled

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Excellent Rendition, Memorable and Simple

As a language trainer, Stephen Fry's English is excellent to listen to, for trainers and students alike.

Stephen does an excellent rendition of poetry as a subject and in practice, breaking down concepts and types of poetry for everyone to understand. Notable for me was ballad and its namesake counterpart in French, the examples of both enabling an easy grasp of the two poetry forms.

I loved listening to this audio book. Thank you, Stephen and a pox on the Audible app's review system for ignoring auto-punctuation on my Android keyboard.

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6 people found this helpful

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Stephen Fry is Such a talent

I absolutely loved this, I knew I would, It’s incredibly informative I felt like I was in a series of high quality lectures, and he adds humour into it, a thoroughly good purchase, highly recommend

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2 people found this helpful

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An academic reference but also a damn good read

I bought the paperback as a text reference but I also bought the audible as I love listening to Stephen Fry. I'm sure I would if he read the 'phone directory (if they still exist), so who better to read his own words. This is an academic study of poetry presented by a lecturer with his expected wit and cheekiness. I have found it useful in reinvigorating my own writing and in providing checks, balances and a good work ethic. True, a lot past me by - I'm not an academic but a scribbler of ditties. I would think this would be a preferred reference tool for students of poetry. It was a good extension from the recordings of Fry's English Delight that I love.

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2 people found this helpful

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Well Worth a Listen!

Brilliant for anyone trying to learn/develop poetry. I used this in my university studies in creative writing. Really helped.

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1 person found this helpful

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Well structured, incredibly reflective

As a teacher of poetry, I constantly read and look for books to help me communicate with my students and/or recommend books to help them develop their skills; this is one such book. This book has a super layout and sets a super foundation for further study. I would also argue it is a great book for seasoned writers to reflect and become inspired again.

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3 hours I will never get back

I listened to 3 hours of listening to Stephen Fry's lovely voice with full on enthusiasm over just the metre of poetry. if you are like me likes to go by how your poetry feels in your gut ,then listening to this very in-depth explanation of form, really isn't for you. I guess it's for some people just not for me, for me it feels like after doing to exercises I was working too hard just to get words to fit . Sorry Stephen free verse wins for me.

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Wonderful Stephen Fry

I could listen all day to Stephen Fry's beautiful voice reading just about anything, but this book about poetry is particularly special. I shall listen to it again I'm sure.

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  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
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one for the a level English student

I love Stephen fry but this is one way above my head. I thought yes I'll have a go but was lost after the second task

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Didn’t like it

I didn’t like how the author says you should not continue with the audiobook until you have done X, Y and Z, on more than one occasion. I listen to an audiobook for entertainment and information, not to be given instructions and told that if I don’t obey these instructions then I should not continue… I was also looking for something with more of a creative spark.

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Top of Stephen Fry

obviously Stephen at his best. loved it. I'll best re-reading again after not too long

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