by W. H. Auden
First published 2019
W.H. Auden compiled this collection after relocating to America with Christopher Isherwood in January 1939, dedicating the volume to Chester Kallman. The poems span subjects from individual portraits to geographical reflections and the intellectual atmosphere of the era. Auden demonstrates broader tonal and technical range than his earlier works. The collection preserves famous verses in their original versions, including widely quoted passages that readers often cite incorrectly. Two poems stand out for their historical significance: "Spain 1937" and "September 1, 1939," both of which Auden would later revise or disown entirely. Some pieces reach back to the early 1930s, creating a retrospective survey of Auden's developing voice during a transformative decade. The poetry captures both personal relationships and political upheavals, reflecting the turbulent period when Auden made his decisive break from England to establish himself in America.
Genres: literary-fiction, american-fiction, 20th-century, american, poetry, biography-memoir, academic
Vibes: emotional-atmospheric, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: coming-of-age, fish-out-of-water
Setting: America, England
Period: 1930s, 1939
128 pages · Hardcover · Faber & Faber