The Realms of Verse 1830-1870

Review from previous edition the best general book of criticism on Victorian poetry altogether in the last decade . . . clearly aimed at non-specialists and specialists alike. * Alison Hickey, Essays in Criticism *
Reynolds is an exceptionally incisive and lucid critic, keenly attentive to formal dynamics . . . but also deft in summarizing the distinctive political engagements of each poet . . . This is a politics of form, as Reynolds well knows, very different from that which prevails in most criticism. Indeed, his coolly polemical introduction points out the pitfalls of the ubiquitous literary-critical "politicizing" of human experience generally . . . This is an extremely important study, one of the best I know on the large ambitions of Victorian poetry. * James Eli Adams, Studies in English Literature *
The best critics, like the best poets (in Browning's words) "impart the gift of seeing to the rest". Reynolds has this gift of seeing and imparting. * Daniel Karlin, Times Literary Supplement *
How the insides of literary works relate to what's going on outside is a question of famous nicety, and Reynolds is painstakingly aware of the intricacies: indeed his awareness of them is possibly the most striking thing about the book, making it a kind of primer in the whole rich problem . . . Reynolds is a critic of great gifts; the book is full of passages beautifully read. * Seamus Perry, Tennyson Research Bulletin *
Victorian scholars will never be able to read familiar poems like 'Aurora Leigh' and 'Andrea del Sarto' the same way again. * Virginia Quarterly Review *
Reynolds sets a high standard for the new century's work in our area of literary studies. May he find able emulators soon. * Herbert Tucker, Victorian Studies *