Speaking to you : contemporary poetry and public address / Natalie Pollard.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Pollard, Natalie.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Paterson, Don, 1963---Criticism and interpretation.

Paterson, Don.

Hill, Geoffrey--Criticism and interpretation.

Hill, Geoffrey.

Graham, W. S. (William Sydney), 1918-1986--Criticism and interpretation.

Graham, W. S.

Sisson, C. H. (Charles Hubert), 1914-2003--Criticism and interpretation.

Sisson, C. H.

Sisson, C. H. (Charles Hubert), 1914-2003.

Graham, W. S. (William Sydney), 1918-1986.

Paterson, Don, 1963-.

English poetry--20th century--History and criticism.

English poetry.

Forms of address in literature.

You (The English word) in literature.

Criticism and interpretation.

Physical Description:

x, 275 pages ; 23 cm

Edition:

First edition.

Place of Publication:

Oxford : Oxford University Press, 2012.

Summary:

Speaking to You examines our pleasure in, accounts of, and uses for British poetry today. It explores the work of four important poets writing post-1960-W.S. Graham, Geoffrey Hill, Don Paterson, and C.H. Sisson-in order to show how contemporary British poetry's creative handling of addresses to 'you' is key in its interactions with readers, critics, lovers, editors, fellow poets, and deceased forebears.

The book lays out clearly, in four sections that focus on individual writers, the range of motives and desires that are at stake in saying 'you' on the printed page. It shows how lyric address is bound up with poetry's ability to delight, move, persuade, and tease its public. It puts these four poets' addresses into dialogue with Modernist, Romantic, Early Modern, and Classical literary figures that will be familiar to scholars and ordinary readers alike.

From John Donne to Tony Harrison, T.S. Eliot to Philip Larkin, John Keats to Carol Ann Duffy, address has been key in constructing political and personal identities. This book argues that, for contemporary poets, address is persuasive public interlocution that prompts 'you' to rethink regional and historical allegiances. Book jacket.

Contents:

I W.S. Graham: Approaches To How You Behave

1 Speaking To You 41

2 Occupied Territory 70

3 Read Me if You Dare: Address and Misbehaviour 86

II C.H. Sisson: To The Public: National Orientations

4 The Words of a Myriad: Orientation and Avoidance 101

5 Sweet Rose of England: Public Bodies 113

6 Old Authentic Words: You, Them, & Us 131

III Geoffrey Hill: Ceremonies of Speech

7 Oppositional Principles 153

8 Just Concessions: Conviction, Persuasion, Coercion 171

9 Antiphonal Heckling 184

10 Civil Invitations: Common Readers 197

IV Don Paterson: On The Money

11 Address and Lyric Commerce 213.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages [247]-264) and index.

ISBN:

9780199657001

0199657009

OCLC:

783148798