Death of a Naturalist
(Author) Seamus HeaneyFor the fortieth anniversary of its publication, in May 2006, Faber are reissuing Seamus Heaney's classic first collection, Death of a Naturalist, which on its appearance in 1966 won the Cholmondeley Award, the E.C. Gregory Award, the Somerset Maugham Award and the Geoffrey Faber Memorial Prize. 'His words give us the soil-reek of Ireland, the colourful violence of his childhood on a farm in Derry. The full-blooded energy of these poems makes Death of a Naturalist the best first book of poems I've read for some time.' - C.B. Cox in the Spectator 'The power and precision of his best poems are a delight, and as a first collection Death of a Naturalist is outstanding [...] His subject is those things which are inherent or inherited. What he praises is to be praised in his own work.' - Christopher Ricks, New Statesman 'Now, to pry into roots, to finger slime, To stare big-eyed Narcissus, into some spring Is beneath all adult dignity. I rhyme To see myself, to set the darkness echoing.'
Seamus Heaney
Seamus Heaney (1939-2013) was an Irish poet, playwright, translator, and lecturer, known for his lyrical and evocative works that often explored themes of nature, history, and Irish identity. Heaney's most notable works include "Death of a Naturalist," "North," and "The Haw Lantern." His poetic style is characterized by its attention to detail, vivid imagery, and musical language.
Heaney was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1995 for his "works of lyrical beauty and ethical depth, which exalt everyday miracles and the living past." He is considered one of the greatest poets of the 20th century and has had a significant impact on contemporary poetry, particularly in the genre of Irish literature.
His most famous work is the collection "Death of a Naturalist," which explores the complexities of human experience through the lens of the natural world. Heaney's contributions to literature have left a lasting legacy, inspiring generations of poets and readers alike.