Ralph Hodgson: 'The Last Blackbird' and Other Poems

Ralph Hodgson (1871-1962) was a poet and illustrator whose most influential and enduring work appeared to great acclaim just prior to and during the First World War. In the 1920s and 1930s, however, he went to live and work in Japan and later moved to the United States and, as a consequence, his work was neglected in Great Britain. It wasn't until the 1950s, with the publishing of his Collected Poems, which included new and exciting material, that he was 'rediscovered' by the literary establishment and the public at large.

Though never fashionable, his status among poets down the years has grown. Admired by T.S. Eliot, John Berryman, Stephen Spender and E.E. Cummings, his work continues to draw praise from contemporary writers. Martin Seymour-Smith, in his Guide to Modern World Literature, declared that Hodgson's work "possessed true distinction" and displayed "epigrammatic and lyrical power ... " This new selection brings together, for the first time in 40 years, some of the most beautiful and powerful 'hymns to life' in the English language.

About the author:

John Harding is the biographer of Ralph Hodgson. As well as several biographies, John Harding has also written books on football, boxing, sailing and flying. He teaches creative writing in London.

68  pages

ISBN: 978-1-871551-81-5