In my view Auden is without equal among twentieth century poets. His is a profound voice, full of insight and wisdom. This is a handsome edition of his work.
I first picked Auden’s Collected Shorter Poems off the shelf of a library. I had no idea at the time that this book would influence me so much. In fact, I think it changed my life, in that it very profoundly affected my outlook on so many things. Now I press that volume into the hands of anybody who asks me what to read.
The Everyman's Library Pocket Poets hardcover series is popular for its compact size and reasonable price which does not compromise content. Poems: Auden is just another reminder of his exhilarating lyric power and his understanding of love and longing in all their sacred and profane guises. One of English poetry's great 20th century masters, Poems: Auden is the short collection of an exemplary champion of human wisdom in its encounter with the mysteries of experience.
W.H. Auden was born in 1907 and went to Oxford University, where he became
Professor of Poetry from 1956 to 1960. After the publication of his Poems in
1930, he became the acknowledged leader of the 'thirties poets'. His poetic
output was prolific, and he also wrote verse plays in collaboration with
Christopher Isherwood, with whom he visited china. In 1946 he became a U.S.
citizen. He died in 1973.