W.H. Auden, a BiographyThis is the first major biography of the man who is arguably the most accomplished and honored poet of his era. His innovations and insights are so much a part of the poet's consciousness today that we tend to forget how great was his contribution. Humphrey Carpenter paints a vivid portrait of a great writer, catching Auden's immense charm and extraordinary drive to become the poetic force he was destined to be. Through his penetrating probe of Auden's journal, notebooks, and letters, he presents the England of the thirties, Berlin on the eve of World War II, and New York in the war years and beyond, along with a host of Auden's friends and lovers. In some ways, Auden may be considered a tragic figure, one whose life was often funny but sometimes shocking and sad. Yet his immense vitality, zest for life, and bursting talent defy so easy a description. -- From publisher's description. |
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
admired Alan Ansen America Ansen asked Auden and Isherwood Auden told Auden wrote autumn began Berg Berlin boys British CAHK called Caroline Newton Cecil Day-Lewis Chester Kallman Christ Church Christopher Isherwood College Communist critics Day-Lewis declared described Dodds Doone Downs School E. R. Dodds early Eliot Elizabeth Mayer England English Faber fact feel film Fisher Gabriel Carritt gave German Gresham's Group Theatre homosexual ibid Iceland Ischia January John Layard July Kirchstetten later lectures letter libretto literary living London look MacNeice McElwee months Naomi Mitchison never opera Orators Oxford person play poem poet poetry political published Pudney realised remarked Review Robert Medley Rupert Doone seems sexual soon Spain stayed Stephen Spender Stravinsky suggested summer T. S. Eliot talk teaching things thought took undergraduate verse W. H. Auden wanted weeks words writing written Wystan York young