Selected Poems
Selected Poems by John Clare, published by Penguin in 2000, presents a comprehensive collection of the poet’s work, spanning 400 pages in English. Clare’s poetry is characterized by his deep connection to the rural landscape of Northamptonshire, where he intricately describes the natural world, including animals, trees, and the changing seasons. His early verses reflect a profound appreciation for nature, while his later works convey a sense of disorientation and loss amid the transformations of the early nineteenth century.
This landmark edition is based on Clare’s original manuscripts and includes an introduction, explanatory notes, and a glossary to enhance the reader’s understanding. Readers will encounter a rich tapestry of themes that explore the beauty of the countryside alongside the impact of societal changes on the rural environment. Clare’s unique voice and perspective have resonated with poets across generations, making this collection a significant contribution to the canon of English poetry.
Official synopsis Publisher
John Clare produced some of English poetry’s most poignant and glorious lyrics. Writing not as an observer of nature but from an intimate knowledge of the wheatfields, hedgerows, and ditches of his village in Northamptonshire, he described animals, insects, trees, rivers, sunlight, and clouds with sublime sensitivity. But as enclosures and “improvements” came in the early nineteenth century, dismembering the rural landscape, his later poems became infused with a sense of disorientation and loss, and scattered with threads of madness. Clare’s genius has been rediscovered by fellow poets in every generation since his death, from Dylan Thomas to Ted Hughes to Seamus Heaney.
First time in Penguin Classics Landmark edition based on Clare’s original manuscripts Includes introduction, explanatory notes, and glossary
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