Alun Lewis: Collected Poems - Softcover

Alun Lewis

Softcover

ISBN 10: 185411316X ISBN 13: 9781854113160

Publisher: Seren, 2007

Synopsis

Alun Lewis (1915-1944), the remarkable poet and story writer, died, aged 28, in Burma during the Second World War. Some critics see him as the last of the great Romantic poets, a twentieth century Keats. Others view him as the bridge between pre-war poets like Auden and Yeats to post-war poets such as Hughes and Gunn. He was born and raised in Depression-struck south Wales and, following degrees in history at Aberystwyth and Manchester, became a teacher there. Early in 1940, despite his pacifist inclinations he enlisted and, after long periods of training, joined the war in India.

Becoming a soldier galvanised Lewis's writing. By 1944 he had written two collections of poems and one of short stories, all published to considerable acclaim. Firmly established with Keith Douglas as the leading writer of the Second World War, Lewis's death in an accident while on active service was a huge loss to English literature. This Collected Poems comprises a body of work which has endured and which transcends the label war poetry ; it is complete in itself and full of promise of greater things.

About this title

About the Author

Alun Lewis, (1915-1944), the remarkable poet and short story writer, died, aged 28, in Burma in the Second World War. Some critics see him as the last of the great Romantic poets, a twentieth century Keats. Others describe his poetry as the path from pre-war Yeats and Auden to post-war poets like Hughes and Gunn. In Wales there are those who think his greater versatility and finer intelligence place him above his contemporaries Dylan Thomas and R.S. Thomas. Born and brought up near Aberdare in south Wales, Lewis read history at Aberystwyth and Manchester. After a brief period teaching and despite pacifist inclinations, he enlisted in the Royal Engineers. He later joined the South Wales Borderers and was posted to India. Becoming a soldier had a stimulating effect on Lewis's writing: Raiders' Dawn, a collection of forty-seven poems, appeared in 1942 and early in 1943, The Last Inspection, a book of short stories, was published, both to considerable critical acclaim. Lewis died in an accident on active service in Burma in 1944.

From the Back Cover

Perhaps the most remarkable writer of the Second World War, Alun Lewis (1915-1944) died on active service in Burma, aged just 28.

Born and brought up near Aberdare in south Wales, Lewis was educated in Manchester and Aberystwyth before returning to the valleys and the Depression. In 1940, despite his pacifist inclination, he enlisted in the Royal Engineers and then accepted a commission in the South Wales Borderers to fight in India. Becoming a soldier had a stimulating effect on Lewis's writing: Raiders' Dawn appeared in 1942, and early in 1943 a collection of stories, The Last Inspection, was published. Both books were widely acclaimed.

Part of the uniform edition of Lewis's work, this volume contains the complete texts of his two collections Raiders' Dawn and Ha! Ha! Among the Trumpets. It also includes 27 previously uncollected poems. This body of work transcends the term 'war poetry': it is both complete itself and full of the promise of greater things to come.

Edition details

• Publisher: Seren
• Publication date: 2007
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 185411316X
• ISBN 13: 9781854113160
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 206
• Editor: Cary Archard