Seamus Heaney Books

In a momentous publication, Seamus Heaney's translation of Book VI of the Aeneid, Virgil's epic poem composed sometime between 29 and 19 BC, follows the hero, Aeneas, on his descent into the underworld. In Stepping Stones, a book of interviews conducted by Dennis O'Driscoll, Heaney acknowledged the importance of the poem to his writing, noting that 'there's one Virgilian journey that has indeed been a constant presence, and that is Aeneas's venture into the underworld. The motifs in Book VI have been in my head for years - the golden bough, Charon's barge, the quest to meet the shade of the father.' In this new translation, Heaney employs the same deft handling of the original combined with the immediacy of language and flawless poetic voice as was on show in his translation of Beowulf, a reimagining which, in the words of Bernard O'Donoghue, brought the ancient poem back to life in 'a miraculous mix of the poem's original spirit and Heaney's voice'.

Seamus Heaney had the idea to form a personal selection of poems from across the entire arc of his writing life, small yet comprehensive enough to serve as an introduction for all comers. But now, finally, the project has been returned to, resulting in an intimate gathering of poems chosen and introduced by the Heaney family.

The collection features 123 diverse poems that capture the essence of medieval England, reflecting voices ranging from sailors and wives to saints and farmers. It encompasses themes of battle, adventure, heartache, and longing, alongside playful innuendo and practical charms. Additionally, readers will find seven intriguing riddles, enriching the portrayal of the era. This anthology complements the narrative of Beowulf, offering a multifaceted glimpse into the lives and emotions of its time.

New Selected Poems 1988-2013 offers the poems that Heaney himself selected from his collections Seeing Things, The Spirit Level, Beowulf, Electric Light, District and Circle and Human Chain.

A version of Sophocles' Philoctetes that tells of the wounded hero marooned upon an island by the Greeks during the Siege of Troy. As the conflict comes to a climax, the Greeks begin to realise they cannot win the Trojan war without Philoctetes' invincible bow, and turn back to seek his help.

The letters provide us with an intimate, multi-layered understanding of this extraordinarypoet's life and mind.

There is something about a treasure, wrote Joseph Conrad, that fastens on a man's mind. And, yes, there is something about the subject of treasure hunting that continues to fascinate us. One need only browse the Web to discover a whole netherworld of treasure-hunting magazines, metal-detector clubs, and lost-mine information exchanges that apparently engage the funds and spare time of thousands of hopefuls. Charles Elliott recaptures the essential romance of the search in this collection of classic stories. Many are true - or purport to be. They take place under the sea, in jungles, on desert islands, even in the attics of old houses. What is common to them all is the excitement of the chase and the possibility - irrational, perhaps, but unavoidable - that a fabulous treasure really is there for the finding.

Exploring themes of personal reflection and connection to place, the collection captures Seamus Heaney's transformative journey from the turmoil of Belfast to the tranquility of Glanmore, County Wicklow. Over four years, Heaney shifts from political poetry to a more introspective style, infusing his work with a meditative quality. This evolution showcases his deepening understanding of the relationship between self and environment, revealing a new strength and maturity in his writing.

Death of a Naturalist marked the auspicious debut of poet, Seamus Heaney, with its lyrical and descriptive powers.

The Rattle Bag is an anthology of poetry (mostly in English but occasionally in translation) for general readers and students of all ages and backgrounds. These poems have been selected by the simple yet telling criteria that they are the personal favorites of the editors, themselves two of contemporary literature's leading poets.Moreover, Heaney and Hughes have elected to list their favorites not by theme or by author but simply by title (or by first line, when no title is given). As they explain in their "We hope that our decision to impose an arbitrary alphabetical order allows the contents [of this book] to discover themselves as we ourselves gradually discovered them--each poem full of its singular appeal, transmitting its own signals, taking its chances in a big, voluble world."With undisputed masterpieces and rare discoveries, with both classics and surprises galore, The Rattle Bag includes the work of such key poets as William Shakespeare, Walt Whitman, Emily Dickinson, Lewis Carroll, Dylan Thomas, Wallace Stevens, Elizabeth Bishop, and Sylvia Plath among its hundreds of poems. A helpful Glossary as well as an Index of Poets and Works are offered at the conclusion of this hefty, unorthodox, diverse, inspired, and inspiring collection of poetry.