W.H. Auden [Paperback]

As both a politically engaged and stylistically versatile poet, W.H. Auden is one of the most influential writers of the twentieth century. His work is not only widely studied and read, but has been used in musical scores and quoted in Hollywood films.

This guide to Audens compelling work offers:

• an accessible introduction to the contexts and many interpretations of Audens texts, from publication to the present
• an introduction to key critical texts and perspectives on Audens life and work, situated in a broader critical history
• cross-references between sections of the guide, in order to suggest links between texts, contexts and criticism
• suggestions for further reading.

Part of the Routledge Guides to Literatureseries, this volume is essential reading for all those beginning detailed study of W.H. Auden and seeking not only a guide to his works but also a way through the wealth of contextual and critical material that surrounds them.

Introduction  Part 1: Life and Contexts  Life.  The Literary Context.  The Historical Context.  The Personal Context  Part 2: The Work  Auden's Books of Poetry.  A Note on Auden as Dramatist.  Poems Individually Considered  Part 3: Criticism  Critical Contours: Auden and His Readers.  Critical Perspectives  Part 4: Further Reading  Chronology.  Select Bibliography