Collected Poems

Reed Henry

Henry Reed (1914-1986) is most familiar as the author of "The Naming of Parts", the best-loved and most anthologised poem of the Second World War. He was a poet of much greater scope than that: in addition to publishing "A Map of Verona", his 1946 collection, he was a fine translator, particularly from the Italian, and wrote acclaimed radio plays, including an ambitious adaptation of "Moby-Dick" and a series of six plays featuring his comic creation Hilda Tablet. On his death he left a sheaf of uncollected poems that had appeared in magazines or were in manuscript. These, together with all Reed's published work, a group of translations and a selection of songs from the radio plays, make up this "Collected Poems". Jon Stallworthy, poet, critic and biographer of Wilfred Owen, has included a biographical and critical introduction to this profound, witty and humane poet.

About the Author

Henry Reed is best known for his widely anthologized World War II poem, "Naming of Parts". He also wrote numerous radio plays for the BBC and was a translator of Italian literature into English. He also published "The Map of Verona".

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