Edited from the original manuscripts at Dove Cottage, this work contains some of the passages of poetry later to appear in the 13-book poem of 1804-5, "The Spots of Time", "The Winander Boy", "The Discharged Soldier", "Recollections of Cambridge", "The Infant Prodigy" and "The Climbing of Snowdon".

Acknowledgements. Abbreviations. Introduction. Further Reading. Chronology. Five-Book Prelude Annotated Text. Recent Critical Commentary. Appendix I: The Analogy Passage. Appendix II: The Schedule of Manuscripts. Index.

The Five-Book Prelude of March 1804 is the great work of Wordsworth's poetic maturity. Edited now for the first time by Duncan Wu from the original manuscripts at Dove Cottage, it contains some of the finest passages of poetry later to appear in the thirteen-book poem of 1804-5 - the spots of time, the Winander boy, the discharged soldier, recollections of Cambridge, the infant prodigy, and the climbing of Snowdon. At once less discursive than the thirteen- and fourteen-book versions, but with more of the great poetry than the 1799 two-part poem, the Five-Book Prelude provides students and general readers alike with an approachable introduction to Wordsworth's greatest work. For many it is likely to become the "Prelude" of choice.