Funeral Blues and Other Poems

"In this bilingual book, Errikos Sofras (who has over twenty-five years of experience in translating demanding poetic works by poets such as Dickinson, Baudelaire, Penna) creates an anthology – including translations and comments - of twelve representative poems from Auden’s largest collection, “Another Time” (1939). For his anthology, Sofras selects a range of poems that include both erotic and political ones, some written in metrical and others in free verse, still others in elegiac couplets, some meditative and some whimsical (written with the intent of being set to music).”

Author : Auden, W. H.

Edition : Kichli Publishing

Auden, W. H. Funeral Blues and Other Poems. Αthens: Kichli Publishing, 2015. (821.91 AUD)

Epitaph on a Tyrant

Perfection, of a kind, was what he was after, And the poetry he invented was easy to understand;He knew human folly like the back of his hand,And was greatly interested in armies and fleets;When he laughed, respectable senators burst with laughter,And when he cried the little children died in the streets.

January 1939

“Wystan Hugh Auden (1907-1973) was the foremost poet of his generation, named the “Auden Group” (otherwise known as the “Generation of the’30s). They characterized him as poet of the city and of history. He is also considered the poet par excellence who captured the spirit of the 20^th century, having lived through significant political events, travelled extensively from continent to continent, and studied in depth some of the most important philosophical and political currents of his time. A spontaneous and genuine poet, always on guard, he spoke as few others had about the “Age of Anxiety.” He studied the poetry of Brecht and Cavafy and wrote anti-romantic, reflective and ironic poems. With unpretentious and bold language and unparalleled technical skill, he tried to curb his excessive talent by writing mostly metrical and rhymed verse poems. He was often heard saying: “A poet’s mission is to preserve the sanctity of language. My only obligation is the correct use of my mother tongue.”

In this bilingual book, Errikos Sofras (who has over twenty-five years of experience in translating demanding poetic works by poets such as Dickinson, Baudelaire, Penna) creates an anthology – including translations and comments - of twelve representative poems from Auden’s largest collection, “Another Time” (1939). For his anthology, Sofras selects a range of poems that include both erotic and political ones, some written in metrical and others in free verse, still others in elegiac couplets, some meditative and some whimsical (written with the intent of being set to music).”

- from Biblionet

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Funeral Blues and Other Poems