Table of Contents

Part I: Backgrounds: Assumptions and hypothesis; Origins and contexts; Theories and enquiries; Part II: Readings and scansions: Rimbaud's 'Marine' and 'Mouvement'; Laforgue's 'Dimanches'; Claudel's 'L'Esprit et l'eau'; Apollinaire's 'Annie', '1909', and 'Automne malade'; Conclusion; Appendices: Glossary of technical terms; 'Argument' and full text of Claudel's 'L'Esprit et l'eau'; Bibliographical references; Further bibliography; Index.

Reviews

`Scott provides a usefully detailed account of the origins of vers libre ... his [Scott's] new book is written with consistent elegance and verve. In Scott's hands scansion earns interpretative colours to which it rarely aspires.' Michael Sheringham, Times Literary Supplement
'Scott's approach is sensitive, stimulating and refreshingly open-ended ... This book should be essential reading for anyone studying free verse, in whatever language.'
J.S.T. Garfitt, Magdalen College, Oxford, French Studies, Vol. 46, Part 1
'Readers interested in the analysis of French poetry will already be familiar with Clive Scott's stimulating, even provocative work in this field ... Vers Libre continues the series, concentrating particularly on the rhythm and scansion of free verses in French. The well-indexed book holds both more and less than the poromise of its title.'
Modern Language Review, Vol. 87 Part 2