Not many authors are allowed the privilege of being retrospectively considered both masterful novelists and poets. Despite the fact that Thomas Hardy saw himself as a poet first, only recently have his poems been accepted as equal to his celebrated novels. Persoon explores how Hardy's poetic vision, seemingly cemented in his twenties, existed in constant tension between Darwin and Wordsworth, betweem a scientific outlook and the poetic temperament. Perceiving Hardy's metaphorical double vision--physically represented by his own eyes, one of which was smaller than the other--we see how this bouncing between realism and romanticism informed not only Hardy's poems but also his view of language, art, architecture, religion and even humor. Hardy's Early Poetry deserves attention by anyone who is interested in understanding the full richness and complexity of Hardy's work.

Immerse yourself in the tumultuous world of the Napoleonic Wars with "The Dynasts: An Epic-Drama of the War with Napoleon" by Thomas Hardy. This monumental work presents a sweeping narrative that intertwines the personal struggles of individuals with the grand scale of historical events. Hardy’s ambitious epic-drama is divided into three parts, showcasing the fateful clash between nations and the myriad forces that shape human destiny. Through rich characterization and poetic dialogue, he brings to life the dilemmas faced by soldiers, statesmen, and common folk caught in the storm of war. With its profound exploration of fate, free will, and the impact of history on individual lives, "The Dynasts" transcends traditional historical narrative, inviting readers to reflect on the broader implications of conflict and ambition. Hardy’s masterful prose captures the essence of an era marked by struggle and resilience, offering a poignant commentary on the human condition. Join Hardy as he navigates the complexities of war, leadership, and morality in this timeless epic. Discover the intricate web of personal and political struggles that defined a generation and shaped the course of history. Don't miss your chance to experience this literary masterpiece. Grab your copy of "The Dynasts" today and embark on an unforgettable journey through the epic drama of the Napoleonic Wars!

The inimitable Alan Bennett selects and comments upon six favorite poets and the pleasures of their works In this candid, thoroughly engaging book, Alan Bennett creates a unique anthology of works by six well-loved poets. Freely admitting his own youthful bafflement with poetry, Bennett reassures us that the poets and poems in this volume are not only accessible but also highly enjoyable. He then proceeds to prove irresistibly that this is so. Bennett selects more than seventy poems by Thomas Hardy, A. E. Housman, John Betjeman, W. H. Auden, Louis MacNeice, and Philip Larkin. He peppers his discussion of these writers and their verse with anecdotes, shrewd appraisal, and telling biographical detail: Hardy lyrically recalls his first wife, Emma, in his poetry, although he treated her shabbily in real life. The fabled Auden was a formidable and off-putting figure at the lectern. Larkin, hoping to subvert snooping biographers, ordered personal papers shredded upon his death. Simultaneously profound and entertaining, Bennett's book is a paean to poetry and its creators, made all the more enjoyable for being told in his own particular voice. its creators, made all the more enjoyable for being told in his own particular voice.

From an award-winning poet, a collection that explores the complexities of transformation, cultures, and politics In Radioactive Starlings, award-winning poet Myronn Hardy explores the divergences between the natural world and technology, asking what progress means when it destroys the places that sustain us. Primarily set in North Africa and the Middle East, but making frequent reference to the poet’s native United States, these poems reflect on loss, beauty, and dissent, as well as memory and the contemporary world’s relationship to the collective past. Hardy imagines the Portuguese writer Fernando Pessoa as various starlings dwelling in New York City, Lisbon, Tunis, and Johannesburg, flying above these cities, resting in ficus and sycamores and on church steeples and minarets. Inhabiting the invented voices of Gwendolyn Brooks, Bob Kaufman, and Henry Ossawa Tanner, the poems make references to Miles Davis, Mahmoud Darwish, Tamir Rice, Ahmed Mohamed, and Albert Camus, and use forms such as ghazal, villanelle, pantoum, and sonnet, in addition to free lyricism. Through all these voices and forms, the questing starlings persist, moving and observing—and being observed by we who are planted on a crumbling ground. A meditation on the complexities of transformation, cultures, and politics, Radioactive Starlings is an important collection from a highly accomplished young poet.

The Guarded Life challenges some of the long-held views of Hardy - did he spend all his early life in preparation for his career as a writer, and did his novels really come a distant second to his poetry in his heart? In his personal life, did his first wife, Emma Hardy, really trick him into marriage and was she the ambitious women her enemies have painted her as being? And what of Florence, his second wife, who has so often been caricatured in her conflicted and passionate feelings for Hardy? By examining the relationships and contexts that shaped Hardy most - the women, the friendships and mentors, the social and family pressures, the career structures and the Dorsetshire landscape - The Guarded Life reveals the personality and emotional life of a public figure who has despite his fame remained until now largely obscure.

Acknowledgements -- Index