 | Poems Written Abroad: The Lilly Library Manuscript Poems Written Abroad is the first publication of the earliest collection of poetry by the famous poet, novelist, literary critic, translator, and radical, Sir Stephen Spender (1909-1995). Spender wrote and compiled this manuscript in 1927, when he was living in Nantes and Lausanne. In tone and diction, Spender's poems range from creatively traditional to unexpectedly innovative. They reflect his reading in Shakespeare and French poetry, as well as his absorption in music and modern art. They also document his struggles with his sexual identity and his emerging desire to devote his life, at whatever cost, to the writing of poetry. This beautiful facsimile edition, authorized by the Spender estate, faithfully reproduces the features of the original manuscript now held by the Lilly Library, including the frontispiece, an ink drawing by Spender himself, and little-known photographs of the poet. The editor's extensive introduction and detailed explanatory notes situate Spender's juvenilia in the context of his life and work and the history of modern poetry. The volume will appeal to readers with interests in modern poetry, gender studies, and fine books. Stephen Harold Spender was born on February 28, 1909 in London, England. He was educated at University College, Oxford University. With the help of a small independent income, he left Oxford in 1931 to devote himself entirely to poetry writing. His first collection of poetry, Twenty Poems, was published in 1930. His other poetry collections include Poems of Dedication, Edge of Being: Poems, and Dolphins. His first prose book, The Destructive Element, was published in 1934. His other works included The Burning Cactus, Forward from Liberalism, European Witness, World Within World, Learning Laughter, The Year of the Young Rebels, Love-Hate Relations: English and American Sensibilities, and The Thirties and After. He also taught English literature at several universities including the University College of London University. He was named a Commander of the British Empire in 1962 and was awarded the Queen's Gold Medal for Poetry in 1971. In 1965, he was the first non-American to serve as Consultant in Poetry in English to the Library of Congress. He was knighted in 1983. He died on July 16, 1995 at the age of 86. (Bowker Author Biography) |
