The Alvarez Generation Thom Gunn, Geoffrey Hill, Ted Hughes, Sylvia Plath, and Peter Porter = Thom Gunn, Geoffrey Hill, Ted Hughes, Sylvia Plath, and Peter Porter

This book is the biography of a taste in poetry and its consequences. During the 1950s and 1960s, a generation of poets appeared who would eschew the restrained manner of Movement poets such as Philip Larkin, a generation who would, in the words of the introduction to A. Alvarez's classic anthology The New Poetry, take poetry 'Beyond the Gentility Principle'. This was the generation of Thom Gunn, Geoffrey Hill, Ted Hughes, Sylvia Plath and Peter Porter. William Wootten explores what these five poets shared in common, their connections, critical reception, rivalries and differences, and locates what was new and valuable in their work. The Alvarez Generation is an important re-evaluation of a time when contemporary poetry and its criticism had a cultural weight it has now lost and when a 'new seriousness' was to become closely linked to questions of violence, psychic unbalance and, most controversially of all, suicide. A new Afterword contains important biographical information on Sylvia Plath and reflects on its implications both for the discussions contained in the book and for the study of Plath's work more generally. During The 1950s And 1960s, A Generation Of Poets Appeared Who Would Eschew The Restrained Manner Of 'movement' Poets Such As Philip Larkin, A Generation Who Would, In The Words Of The Introduction To A. Alvarez's Classic Anthology 'the New Poetry', Take Poetry 'beyond The Gentility Principle'. This Was The Generation Of Thom Gunn, Geoffrey Hill, Ted Hughes, Sylvia Plath And Peter Porter. Here, Author William Wootten Explores What These Five Poets Shared In Common - Their Connections, Critical Reception, Rivalries And Differences - And Locates What Was New And Valuable In Their Work. Beginnings: Oxford And Cambridge Poetry In The Early 1950s -- 'a Violent Time' : Anti-movement Poetry In The Mid To Late 1950s -- In Opposite Directions : A. Alvarez And Thom Gunn -- Against Gentility -- On Being Serious -- Anthology-making -- First Reactions : The Review Debate And The Initial Response To The New Poetry -- Sylvia Plath -- Going To Extremes -- 'a Study Of Suicide' -- 'against Extremism' -- Costing Seriousness -- 'i Don't Like Dramatizing Myself' -- Birthday Letters -- Geoffrey Hill's New Poetry -- Children Of The New Poetry. William Wootten. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. This book is the biography of a taste in poetry and its consequences. During the 1950s and 1960s, a generation of poets appeared who would eschew the restrained manner of Movement poets such as Philip Larkin, a generation who would, in the words of the introduction to A. Alvarez's classic anthology The New Poetry, take poetry 'Beyond the Gentility Principle'. This was the generation of Thom Gunn, Geoffrey Hill, Ted Hughes, Sylvia Plath and Peter Porter. William Wootten explores what these five poets shared in common, their connections, critical reception, rivalries and differences, and locates what was new and valuable in their work. The Alvarez Generation is an important re-evaluation of a time when contemporary poetry and its criticism had a cultural weight it has now lost and when a 'new seriousness' was to become closely linked to questions of violence, psychic unbalance and, most controversially of all, suicide. Cover -- Contents -- Acknowledgements -- Preface -- PART I -- Chapter One: Beginnings: Oxford and Cambridge Poetry in the Early 1950s -- Chapter Two: Violent Times: Anti-Movement Poetry in the Mid to Late 1950s -- Chapter Three: In Opposite Directions: A. Alvarez and Thom Gunn -- Chapter Four: Against Gentility -- Chapter Five: On Being Serious -- Chapter Six: Anthology-Making -- Chapter Seven: First Reactions: The Review Debate and the Initial Response to The New Poetry -- PART II -- Chapter Eight: Sylvia Plath -- PART III -- Chapter Nine: Going to Extremes Chapter Ten: 'A Study of Suicide' -- PART IV -- Chapter Eleven: Against Extremism -- Chapter Twelve: Costing Seriousness -- Chapter Thirteen: 'I Don't Like Dramatizing Myself' -- Chapter Fourteen: Birthday Letters -- Chapter Fifteen: Geoffrey Hill's New Poetry -- Chapter Sixteen: Children of The New Poetry -- Bibliography -- Index Exploration of the generation of poets anthologized in A. Alvarez's classic The new poetry - Thom Gunn, Geoffrey Hill, Ted Hughes, Sylvia Plath and Peter Porter