Auden

Peter Ackroyd

• Publisher: Reaktion Books
• Year: 2026
• eBook ISBN: 9781836392194
• Topic: Literature
• Index: Literature

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.

Table of contents

• Cover
• Half-title Page
• Title Page
• Copyright
• Contents
• 1. My Great Good Place
• 2. Dull, Persistent, Gnawing Anxiety
• 3. Here’s a Nice Friend for You
• 4. Schoolmastering Suits Me
• 5. Lay Your Sleeping Head, My Love
• 6. Just Roll It Up and Throw It Away
• 7. It’s Good-Bye, Dear Heart
• 8. But It’s the Wrong Blond!
• 9. Have Started Biting My Nails Again
• 10. Beloved, We Are Always in the Wrong
• 11. I’m Sure There’s a Bit of Herod in Me
• 12. It’s Wrong to Be Queer
• 13. I’m a Neurotic Middle Aged Butterball
• 14. I Feel So Giddy and Excited
• 15. One of My Holy Places
• 16. It’s Just Like Beatrix Potter
• 17. I Needed the Money
• 18. I Implore You by the Bowels of Christ
• References
• Bibliography
• Acknowledgements
• Photo Acknowledgements
• Index