Collected Poems of Kathleen Raine [Hardcover]

Kathleen Raine (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 2001

The lifework of one of the 20th century's greatest poets. Since her first collection of poems published in 1943, Kathleen Raine has been writing a kind of mystical nature poetry all her own, a poetry immersed in the quiet air of solitude and imagination. Vita Sackville-West, writing in the Observer, spoke of her "curious purity": "Her poems are like drops of water, clear, self-contained, and sometimes iridescent with the elusive colors of mysticism." Collected Poems is the lifework of a visionary, a celebration of the miracles of nature and man's place among them. Now in her ninety-second year she has chosen this work from eleven published collections and from other uncollected and unpublished sources. The earliest poems were written in the mid-thirties, the latest in the late nineties.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Born in 1908, this serious and energetic British poet made her name in the Forties with ambitiously mystical verse much indebted to Dylan Thomas, William Blake and to South Asian religion. Since then, she has become known as a critic of Blake and of Yeats, and as the editor of her own Temenos Press. Now 92 years old, Raine (not to be confused with the better-known Craig Raine) has continued to publish one or two substantial volumes each decade, tirelessly devoted to more or less pantheistic or ecstatic mystical doctrines. Raine's early work and her late work, too can sound like a Blake pastiche, or like literal translations from the Sanskrit: "The center of the mandala is possibility/ Of incarnation " Nevertheless, her range and her craft expanded over the years. The '60s saw her take an interest in free verse and in natural landscapes, especially those of Italy and Scotland. On a Deserted Shore (1973) comprises 130 short numbered lyrics like this one: "Since smoke rose from your pyre/ All clouds are dear; but how/ Among those vague bright forms/ Yours shall I know?" These poems and others of the '70s and '80s come close to the mysticism of Yeats. While this book's inclusivity makes for off-putting repetition and far too many moments of bathos, Raine's work remains a sustained and honorable effort, and will certainly appeal to readers who seek seriousness of purpose in using poetry as a means of spiritual enlightenment. (Feb.)
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

"A meditative, intimate, feminine poet with a real gift. . .They are thoughtful poems, full of ideas and feeling for Nature." -- Cyril Connolly

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 400 pages
• Publisher: Counterpoint (January 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1582431353
• ISBN-13: 978-1582431352
• Product Dimensions: 9.6 x 6.4 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #975,571 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A splendid journey, December 13, 2004

By 

Eric Barr (Durand, IL United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Collected Poems of Kathleen Raine (Hardcover)

What a luminous volume of poetry! Raine's imaginal language coupled with her ability to evoke mood and passion makes this volume of collected poetry a treasure. I keep only a few poets on my shelf. Kathleen Raine has joined that group of wordsmiths that transcend the ordinary. If you have never heard her poetry, try this volume. Out in the garden, in the evening twilight, her words will open your eyes to a new way of seeing and experiencing. She has a definite Celtic flavor and inspiration to her work. You will not be disappointed.