The Painful Poignancy of Desire is an introduction to Romantic and Postromantic poetry. Professor Moscovicis exegesis places an emphasis on passion which is more than merely a romantic theme passion is the Romantic ethos. Students of literature often wonder why writings from centuries ago are given seemingly permanent places in the canon and are studied extensively in an undergraduate setting. The Painful Poignancy of Desire addresses contemporary students desire to know why older works are relevant and indeed necessary to their lives and study. By presenting aspects of the Romantic and Postromantic movements in poetry including her own poetry Professor Moscovici illustrates that these cultural movements are a significant part of history because they illuminate the origins of an individuals pleasures sense of beauty and ultimately our hope. These movements continue to awaken our emotions imaginations sensibilities and creativity. They offer a wealth of riches in literary and human history.