Accrington Web - View Single Post - Bookworms:What are the best first lines you've read?

susie123 · 06-05-2012, 17:08

If we're going for poetry, Ozymandias by Shelley:

I met a traveller from an antique land

The imagery in the poem, of ancient statues in the desert, has stayed with me rather like the image conjured up by the opening of Metamorphosis.

I also go for Byron's The Eve of Waterloo, part of Childe Harold's Pilgrimage but also published separately:

There was a sound of revelry by night...

describing a ball followed by hasty preparations for the battle the following day, which of course ends in slaughter.

06-05-2012, 17:08	#31
susie123 Resting In Peace Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Morecambe Posts: 4,208 Liked: 416 times Rep Power: 36416	Re: Bookworms:What are the best first lines you've read? If we're going for poetry, Ozymandias by Shelley: I met a traveller from an antique land The imagery in the poem, of ancient statues in the desert, has stayed with me rather like the image conjured up by the opening of Metamorphosis. I also go for Byron's The Eve of Waterloo, part of Childe Harold's Pilgrimage but also published separately: There was a sound of revelry by night... describing a ball followed by hasty preparations for the battle the following day, which of course ends in slaughter. __________________ Let sleeping polar bears lie...