Ivor Gurney was a composer and author whose work delves into profound emotional and psychological landscapes. His early musical training laid the groundwork for a remarkable talent, though his artistic journey was often marked by internal struggles. Gurney's poetry, forged in the crucible of World War I, possesses a raw honesty and poignant sensitivity, capturing both personal suffering and the broader human experience. His prose, much like his music, grapples with the tension between creative intensity and a fragile psyche, making him a unique and affecting literary figure.
The book offers a faithful reproduction of the original work, preserving its content and style. It aims to maintain the integrity of the text while providing readers with an authentic experience of the author's voice and vision. This edition serves as a valuable resource for those interested in the historical context and significance of the original publication.
The book is a reproduction of a historical work, published by Megali, a house dedicated to producing large print editions. This initiative aims to enhance accessibility for readers with impaired vision, ensuring that important historical texts are available to a wider audience.
The composition of "Carol of the Skiddaw Yowes," based on Edmund Casson's poem, captures the festive spirit while addressing the challenges faced by ewes in the Lake District's mountains. Originally published in 1919, this piece is part of the Classic Music Collection, which features a vast library of renowned musical works. These compositions are reproduced from authoritative editions, making them accessible for both musicians and music students globally.
In this new edition Gurney's poems have been re-ordered to take into account new scholarship with the texts having been revised and corrected against the manuscripts. Gurney is now acknowledged as one of the major war poets with a resurgence in public interest.
This selection of over 150 of Ivor Gurney's poems, was made by the poet P.J. Kavanagh from his edition of the Collected Poems of Ivor Gurney. It is reissued now, with a few corrected readings, and with a Chronology and Introduction to Gurney's life, by P.J. Kavanagh.