Selected Poems (Fyfield Books) - Softcover

Dunbar, William

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1857547195 ISBN 13: 9781857547191

Publisher: Fyfield Books, 2003

Synopsis

Hugh MacDiarmid hailed William Dunbar (1461?-1520?) as "in many ways the most modern, as he is the most varied, of Scottish poets". His verve, wit, metrical skill, malice and elegiac power made him one of the great poets of the 15th century, and a defining Scottish poet of all time. Although he was a priest for most of his adult life, Dunbar saw himself as a professional writer and took an outspoken pride in his craft, never failing to remind the king, his employer, of the unwisdom of neglecting to reward poets. Close to the European traditions of Francois Villon and troubadour lyrics, and inheriting the vigorous rhythms of Piers Plowman, Dunbar revitalised the conventions of medieval poetry, excelling in his mastery of the short satirical and lyrical poem. He can be bawdy, savage and romantic. Above all, more than any other poet of his time, Dunbar speaks directly in a voice that is vivid and challenging. This fully annotated edition makes the richness of Dunbar's language accessible to the modern reader.

About this title

About the Author:

William Dunbar was a poet in 15th-century Scotland. Ordained a priest in 1504, he served as a cleric in the court of James IV. Harriet Harvey-Wood is a former literature director of the British Council and a former judge for the Man Booker Prize. She was appointed Order of the British Empire in 1993.

About this edition

• Publisher: Fyfield Books
• Publication date: 2003
• ISBN 10: 1857547195
• ISBN 13: 9781857547191
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 136
• Editor: Wood Harriet Harvey