This fascinating study of the life and work of W. H. Davies, a nature poet and seeker of social justice, focuses on themes of ethics, sex, creativity, national identity, and class and English society. Following Davies from his lowly circumstances in Newport to his move to America, where he lived as a hobo, and back to England, where he became a man of letters, this telling biography demonstrates Davies's remarkable journey in life as well as his evolution as a writer. His emergence on the poetry scene is compared to the rise of the Georgian Poets, and his championing by Edward Thomas is examined. Also included are details on his pivotal volume,
Young Emma
, which chronicled his marriage to a 20-year-old prostitute.
About the Author:
Lawrence Normand
is a senior lecturer in English, cultural studies, and communication studies at Middlesex University.