Book Event - Poetry of the Second World War

The Second World War is now recognized as a watershed for British poetry. The changes that arose were masked for some time by the enormous power and shock of the conflict itself, and by the restrictions on poetry publishing consequent on paper rationing and the general business of wartime. This anthology seeks to showcase not only the harrowingly beautiful poetry born from the conflict, but also the radical changes to style and form that came from the epoch and altered the face of British poetry. Featuring famous poets, including Dylan Thomas, T. S. Eliot and W. H. Auden, alongside works by civilians and soldiers, the collection offers a symphony of different voices, all connected in their shared experience of the Second World War.

Tim Kendall's introduction charts the history of the war poets' reception, explaining their relationship with their First World War predecessors and some of the reasons why they have never managed to reach such a wide audience. The work of each poet is prefaced with a biographical account which allows poems to be read in their historical context, and every poem is annotated with date of composition, publication history and a gloss of words and allusions.

Tim Kendall taught in Oxford, Newcastle and Bristol before taking up a professorship at the University of Exeter in 2006. He has been Head of Department, Director of Research, Director of Impact, and is now the Academic Director of Special Collections. His main research interests are war poetry, William Golding's fiction, nature writing and archives.

📚 Local bookshop Clerkenwell's Coffee and Books will be selling copies of the anthology at this event. 📚

Why not come early and see our new exhibition 'London in the Second World War' exploring the experiences of Londoners during the Second World War and the effect it had on the city they knew. Using the London County Council bomb damage maps, personal diaries, original artwork and atmospheric photographs we will tell the story of the people that lived and worked in a city at war. This free exhibition will run from 24 February 2025 to 30 October 2025. London in the Second World War | London Archives

If the cost of this event is preventing you from attending please email us at TLADigital@cityoflondon.gov.uk