Irish Poetry of the 1930s

Book excerpt: "The 1930s have never really been considered as an epoch within Irish literature, even though the Thirties form one of the most dominant and fascinating contexts in modern British literature. Alan Gillis shows that during this time Irish poets confronted political pressures and aesthetic dilemmas which frequently overlapped with those faced by 'The Auden Generation'. In doing so, he not only offers a provocative rereading of Irish history, but also advances powerful arguments about the way poetry is interpreted and understood." "Gillis redefines our understanding of a frequently neglected period and challenges received notions of both Irish literature and poetic modernism. Irish Poetry of the 1930s gives detailed and vital readings of the major poets of the decade, including original and exciting analyses of Samuel Beckett, Patrick Kavanagh, Louis MacNeice, and W.B. Yeats."--Résumé de l'éditeur.