John Masefield : a life (New ed.)

This was the first full-length biography ever published about a little known Poet Laureate.

Born in Ledbury in 1878, Masefield was apprenticed under sail before spending several years in the USA.

On his return to England he worked as a journalist for the 'Manchester Guardian' and other newspapers, and his first poems were published at the start of last century.

In 1911 'The Everlasting Mercy' was published and caused a sensation with its brutal realsim; over the next two decades he established himself as a poet, playwright, novelist and historian.

He enjoyed the friendship of Robert Graves and Yeats, and was appointed Poet Laureate in 1930.

He died in 1967. Constance Babington-Smith received the full co-operation and support of Masefield's family, and has access to many previously unpublished papers and letters.

The result is a well-rounded and absobing biography of one of the best-loved English poets, and one whose reputation has been in the doldrums for far too long.