Originally published as THE NOBLE VOICE, this is a curiously argumentative, sometimes downright pissy set of essays on Homer, Milton, Lucretius, Dante anmd sundry others.Van Doren was a truly great poet himself, though in smaller forms than those discussed here. He was also a legendary teacher. My respect for hios own creations is of-course, undiluted by the reading of thuis book, but that reputation as a great teacher didn't survive. Laying down the law has nothing to to with education, either on the printed page or in thge spoken word. For the record, whatever value this book has exists as commentary for those who've already read the works in question. I suspect that someone reading this in preparation for reading the classics will not benefit significantly. ( )