Bloodaxe Poetry Introductions are a new kind of anthology aimed at the general reader as well as the poetry lover. Each book in the series covers four leading contemporary poets in depth, with substantial selections covering the whole range of each writer's poetry, as well as intriguing and illuminating background material, including profiles, interviews, essays and commentary by the poets. This Introduction brings together four of America's major modern poets Jack Gilbert, Jane Hirshfield, Galway Kinnell, and W.S. Merwin.
Neil Astley is editor of Bloodaxe Books, Britain’s leading poetry imprint, which he founded in 1978. His own books include novels, poetry collections and anthologies, most notably the Bloodaxe Staying Alive trilogy. He is also a trustee of Ledbury Poetry Festival and Newcastle Centre for the Literary Arts, and a development committee member of Cúirt International Festival of Literature in Galway, Ireland.