Ted Hughes in Context

Brings together experts who inform new readings of Ted Hughes's work, with a new awareness of his posthumous importance.

Terry Gifford (Edited by)

9781108425551, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 21 June 2018

430 pages
23.5 x 15.9 x 2.5 cm, 0.74 kg

'As a mapping of the range of Hughes's work and influence, it is invaluable.' Andrew Forster, The Times Literary Supplement

Ted Hughes wrote in a wide range of modes which were informed by an even wider range of contexts to which his lifetime's reading, interests and experience gave him access. The achievement of Ted Hughes as one of the major poets of the twentieth century is complimented by his growing reputation as a writer of letters, plays, literary criticism and translations. In addition, Hughes made important contributions to education, literary history, emergent environmentalism and debates about life writing. Ted Hughes in Context brings together thirty-four contributors who inform new readings of the works, and conceptualize Hughes's work within long-standing critical traditions while acknowledging a new awareness of his future importance. This collection offers consideration not only of the most important aspects of Hughes's work, but also the most neglected.

Part I. Literary Contexts: 1. Hughes and his contemporaries Jonathan Locke Hart
2. Hughes and Plath Heather Clark
3. Hughes and Eliot Ronald Schuchard
4. Hughes's literary legacy Fiona Sampson
Part II. Genre Contexts: 5. Hughes's writing for children Lissa Paul
6. Hughes and drama Jonathan Locke Hart
7. Hughes as literary critic Alex Davis
8. Hughes as translator Tara Bergin
9. Hughes as correspondent Joanny Moulin
Part III. Stylistic Contexts: 10. Hughes and voice Carrie Smith
11. Hughes and surrealism Sam Perry
12. Hughes and Eastern Europeans Tara Bergin
13. Hughes and the classics Roger Rees
14. Hughes's collaboration with artists Lorraine Kerslake
Part IV. Geocultural Contexts: 15. Hughes's Yorkshire Steve Ely
16. Hughes and America Gillian Groszewski
17. Hughes and Ireland Mark Wormald
Part V. Anthropological Contexts: 18. Hughes and religion David Troupes
19. Hughes and Shamanism Gregory Leadbetter
20. Hughes and the occult Ann Henning Jocelyn
Part VI. Historical Contexts: 21. Hughes and the Middle Ages James Robinson
22. Hughes and history Danny O'Connor
23. Hughes and war Helen Melody
24. Hughes and the laureateship Neil Roberts
Part VII. Gender Contexts: 25. Hughes and feminism Laura Blomvall
26. Hughes, masculinity and gender identity Janne Stigen Drangsholt
Part VIII. Environmental Contexts: 27. Hughes and nature Terry Gifford
28. Hughes and agriculture Jack Thacker
29. Hughes and fishing Mark Wormald
30. Hughes's environmental campaigns Yvonne Reddick
Part IX. Educational Contexts: 31. Hughes and creative writing Hugh Dunkerley
32. Hughes, anthologising and education David Whitley
Part X. Biographical Contexts: 33. Hughes's publication history Mark Hinchliffe
34. Hughes's archives Amanda Golden
35. Hughes and the biographers Claire Heaney
36. The Ted Hughes myth Danny O'Connor.

Subject Areas: Literary reference works [DSR], Literary studies: poetry & poets [DSC], Literary studies: from c 1900 - [DSBH]