20th century
A01=Peter Ackroyd
Anglo-Catholicism
Author_Peter Ackroyd
Category=DNBL
Chester Kallman
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eq_biography-true-stories
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eq_new_release
eq_nobargain
eq_non-fiction
Existentialism
Freudianism
Great Depression
homosexuality
Marxism
poetic voice
poetry
queer
repression
Spanish Civil War
W. H. Auden
Product details
- ISBN 9781836391722
- Dimensions: 156 x 234mm
- Publication Date: 01 Mar 2026
- Publisher: Reaktion Books
- Publication City/Country: GB
- Product Form: Hardback
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Featured in New Statesman’s Culture Preview 2026: The best non-fiction to read this year
Of all the English poets born in the twentieth century, Wystan Hugh Auden is by far the most significant. This forthright biography explores the evolution of his poetic voice in tandem with his shifting beliefs – Existentialism, Marxism, Freudianism and Anglo-Catholicism – reflecting the intellectual climate of the century. Rooted in English traditions, Auden’s work reveals both public and personal histories, from the Great Depression and Spanish Civil War to his experiences as a gay man navigating repression and later liberation. The book traces his journeys from Oxford to Berlin, China and America, bringing to life his turbulent era and the inner conflicts of his long relationship with Chester Kallman. This insightful and compelling account by acclaimed historian Peter Ackroyd captures Auden’s genius as both a historical witness and an enduring poetic voice.
Peter Ackroyd is one of Britain’s most respected historians and novelists. His many books include London: The Biography, Hawksmoor and the bestselling History of England series. He is also the author of The English Actor and The English Soul, both published by Reaktion.
