Collected Poems: Ivor Gurney

Overview

Celebrating one of the most original poets of the early 20th century, this compilation features the work of England’s Ivor Gurney. Gurney’s verse—describing his experiences in World War I and his love of his native Gloucestershire’s countryside—underscores his vigorous, lyrical, and passionate poetic voice. Revised and updated, this new edition retains this war poet’s eye for detail and musical ear—one that combines traditional rhythms with the unpredictable.

Reviews

"A significant landmark in literary history."  —Andrew Motion, poet and author, The Cinder Path

"I commend this collection . . . it reflects the sheer plentitude of Gurney's output. It is a joy to explore."  —Robert J. Yates, Ivor Gurney Society Journal

Author Biography

Ivor Gurney was a prolific composer and poet and the author of War Letters. As a result of his involvement in World War I, he spent the last 16 years of his life in mental institutions. P. J. Kavanagh is a writer, an editor, and a former columnist for the Spectator and the Times Literary Supplement. He is the author of Collected Poems, The Perfect Stranger, and Voices in Ireland and the editor of The Essential G. K. Chesterton and The Oxford Book of Short Poems. He is the recipient of the Cholmondeley Award for poetry, the Guardian Fiction Prize, and the Richard Hillary Prize.