Housman's PoemsClarendon Press, 1992 - 202 pages Although Housman's three collections of poems, the third published posthumously, have remained continuously popular, they have not received much serious critical attention. Bayley makes up for the omission in this thorough and comprehensive reappraisal of the whole oeuvre, placing Housman's achievement in the context of the poetry of his own time and of more recent European and American poetry. Close analysis and comparison with other poets--Hardy, Frost, Edward Thomas, Larkin, and Paul Celan--prove illuminating in relation to a poet who has usually been considered something of an odd man out, and even an anachronism in the modern era. Bayley explores and explains the continuing appeal of the poetry to present-day readers, and the nature of craftsmanship and psychology which lie behind its deceptive simplicities. The book is a valuable introduction to Housman's achievement for the specialist and the poetry lover alike. |
Contents
Jokes | 137 |
Hell Gate and Parnassus | 149 |
Contacts and Reversals | 177 |
Copyright | |
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Common terms and phrases
admired appear beauty becomes bring brother called certainly classical collection comes consciousness context contrast critics darkness dead death deliberately dreams earth effect emotion English example experience expressed eyes fact feeling felt girl give grave hand heart Hell hill Housman human humour idea imagination joke keep kind land Larkin Last Poems later Leavis less letter living look lost lover matter meaning mind morning moving names nature never night once perhaps poem poem's poet poet's poetic poetry present published reader revealing Ricks romantic seems sense Shropshire Lad sleep soldier sort sound speak stanza style suggests tell things thought tone touch trouble true turn verse wind wish write written wrote young