A Shropshire Lad

In this series a contemporary poet selects and introduces another poet of a different generation whom they have particularly admired. This selection of A.E. Housman poems are selected by Alan Hollinghurst.

A. E. Housman was one of the best-loved poets of his day, whose poems conjure up a potent and idyllic rural world imbued with a poignant sense of loss. They are expressed in simple rhythms, yet show a fine ear for the subtleties of metre and alliteration. His scope is wide - ranging from religious doubt to intense nostalgia for the countryside. This volume brings together 'A Shropshire Lad' (1896) and 'Last Poems' (1922), along with the posthumous selections 'More Poems' and 'Additional Poems', and three translations of extracts from Aeschylus, Sophocles and Euripides that display his mastery of Classical literature.

A New York Times Book Review Editor's Choice and Nominated for the 2017 PEN/Bograd Weld Prize for Biography A captivating exploration of A. E. Housman and the influence of his particular brand of Englishness A. E. Housman’s A Shropshire Lad made little impression when it was first published in 1896 but has since become one of the best-loved volumes of poetry in the English language. Its evocation of the English coun - tryside, thwarted love, and a yearning for things lost is as potent today as it was more than a century ago, and the book has never been out of print. In Housman Country, Peter Parker explores the lives of A. E. Housman and his most famous book, and in doing so shows how A Shropshire Lad has permeated English life and culture since its publication. The poems were taken to war by soldiers who wanted to carry England in their pockets, were adapted by composers trying to create a new kind of English music, and have influ - enced poetry, fiction, music, and drama right up to the present day. Everyone has a personal “land of lost content” with “blue remembered hills,” and Housman has been a tangible and far-reaching presence in a startling range of work, from the war poets and Ralph Vaughan Williams to Inspector Morse and Morrissey. Housman Country is a vivid exploration of England and Englishness, in which Parker maps out terrain that is as historical and emotional as it is topographical.

"A Shropshire Lad" by Alfred Edward Housman is a classic collection of poems that captures the essence of life in Shropshire in the 1890s. Housman's evocative verses transport readers to a bygone era, painting a vivid picture of the English countryside and its inhabitants. This work remains a testament to Housman's poetic prowess and his deep connection to the land.

“Last Poems” is a 1936 collection of poetry by A. E. Housman. The poems include: “The West”, “Llic Jacet”, “Grenadier”, “Lancer”, “The Deserter”, “The Culprit”, “Eight O'Clock”, “Spring Morning”, “Astronomy”, “Epithalamium”, “The Oracles”, “Sinner's Rue”, “Hell's Gate”, “Revolution”, “Epitaph On An Army Of Mercenaries”, and “Fancy's Knell”. Alfred Edward Housman (1859–1936), also known as A. E. Housman, was an English poet and classical scholar considered to be one of the greatest scholars who ever lived. A fantastic collection of classic poetry by a master of the form. This classic work is being republished now in a new edition complete with a chapter from “Twenty-Four Portraits” by William Rothenstein.

'A Shropshire Lad' is a collection of sixty-three poems by the English poet Alfred Edward Housman. The book contains several repeated themes. It is not a connected narrative; though the "I" of the poems is in two cases named as Terence (VIII, LXII), the "Shropshire Lad" of the title, he is not to be identified with Housman himself. Not all the poems are in the same voice and there are various kinds of dialogue between the speaker and others, including conversations beyond the grave.

"A Shropshire Lad" is a celebrated collection of lyrical poems penned by A. E. Housman, an English classical scholar and poet. Published in 1896, these verses are marked by a lyrical and musical quality, expressing sentiments of melancholy, nostalgia, and reflection. The poems draw on rural and pastoral imagery, painting vivid pictures of the Shropshire landscapes. Central themes revolve around the fleeting nature of youth and the inevitability of mortality. Housman's background as a classical scholar is evident in the precise structure and language of the poetry. "A Shropshire Lad" has made a lasting impact on English literature, influencing modern poetry with its timeless themes and craftsmanship. For those drawn to emotionally resonant verse that captures the essence of late 19th-century England, this collection remains a significant and influential work, widely available in bookstores, libraries, and online platforms dedicated to classic literature.

Title: A Shropshire LadAuthor: A. E. HousmanCommentator: William Stanley BraithwaiteLanguage: English