About the book
Selected and introduced by J. M. Coetzee and Alissa Valles, an essential gathering of poetry from one of the twentieth century’s pre-eminent literary voices
be courageous when reason fails you be courageous
in the final reckoning it is the only thing that counts
Born in Poland, Zbigniew Herbert was one of the great poets of the twentieth century, moved throughout his work by a powerful sense of humanity in the darkest of times. This new selection brings together poems from across the whole of his writing life, from his first volume Chord of Light in 1956, to works published posthumously in 2024. Direct, lucid, sometimes impish in his ironic humour, and deeply informed not only by the history of his own time, but by the Classical world, here is a poet of huge imaginative range and profundity, who desires always to ‘touch the essence’: to get to the heart of life.
\"He offers what we all need in an age of darkening anxiety and mistrust: a voice of lucid, truly humane observation and integrity. Ethical, often ironical, full of self-doubt; quick, original and vivid.\" Ruth Padel
Editions of Selected Poems
- Paperback
- ISBN 9780241654613
- EBook
- ISBN 9780241654620
Read an Excerpt
Selected and introduced by J. M. Coetzee and Alissa Valles, an essential gathering of poetry from one of the twentieth century’s pre-eminent literary voices
be courageous when reason fails you be courageous
in the final reckoning it is the only thing that counts
Born in Poland, Zbigniew Herbert was one of the great poets of the twentieth century, moved throughout his work by a powerful sense of humanity in the darkest of times. This new selection brings together poems from across the whole of his writing life, from his first volume Chord of Light in 1956, to works published posthumously in 2024. Direct, lucid, sometimes impish in his ironic humour, and deeply informed not only by the history of his own time, but by the Classical world, here is a poet of huge imaginative range and profundity, who desires always to ‘touch the essence’: to get to the heart of life.
\"He offers what we all need in an age of darkening anxiety and mistrust: a voice of lucid, truly humane observation and integrity. Ethical, often ironical, full of self-doubt; quick, original and vivid.\" Ruth Padel
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Selected Poems about?
Selected and introduced by J. M. Coetzee and Alissa Valles, an essential gathering of poetry from one of the twentieth century’s pre-eminent literary voices
be courageous when reason fails you be courageous
in the final reckoning it is the only thing that counts
Born in Poland, Zbigniew Herbert was one of the great poets of the twentieth century, moved throughout his work by a powerful sense of humanity in the darkest of times. This new selection brings together poems from across the whole of his writing life, from his first volume Chord of Light in 1956, to works published posthumously in 2024. Direct, lucid, sometimes impish in his ironic humour, and deeply informed not only by the history of his own time, but by the Classical world, here is a poet of huge imaginative range and profundity, who desires always to ‘touch the essence’: to get to the heart of life.
\"He offers what we all need in an age of darkening anxiety and mistrust: a voice of lucid, truly humane observation and integrity. Ethical, often ironical, full of self-doubt; quick, original and vivid.\" Ruth Padel
What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in Selected Poems?
Biography, Literature and Literary studies > Poetry / Poems > Poetry / poems by individual poets
Where can I read a sample of Selected Poems?
You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9780241654613
Who is/are the Author/s of the book Selected Poems?
Zbigniew Herbert
What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?
Selected Poems is available as paperback(ISBN 9780241654613) and ebook(ISBN 9780241654620)
Where can I buy Selected Poems online or support local independent bookshops?
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Where can I buy Selected Poems?