'Richard Rankin Russell brings an impressive combination of knowledge and skill to this steady, patient exploration of Seamus Heaney's poems. Thoughtfully and sympathetically in keeping with Heaney's own meditations on the art of poetry, his book is a valuable and comprehensive introduction to one of the most accomplished poetic careers of our time.'
Stephen Regan, Durham University

'This is an excellent overview of Seamus Heaney's art, from first to last - biographically grounded, contextually alert, perceptive and discriminating in its close readings. Richard Rankin Russell is an eminently readable and reliable guide to the work of one of the truly outstanding poets and literary critics of our time.'
Neil Corcoran, University of Liverpool

The first detailed introduction to the entirety of Seamus Heaney's work

This study will enable readers to gain clearer understanding of the life and major works of Seamus Heaney. It considers literary influences on Heaney, ranging from Irish poets such as Kavanagh and Yeats to English poets such as Wordsworth, Hughes and Auden to world poets such as Virgil and Dante. It shows how Heaney was closely attuned to poetry's impact on daily life and current events even as he articulated a convincing apologia for poetry's own life and integrity. Discussing Heaney's deep immersion in Irish Catholicism, this book demonstrates how faith influenced his belief system, poetry and politics. Finally, it also considers how deeply Heaney's artistic endeavours were intertwined with politics in Northern Ireland, especially through his embrace of constitutional nationalism but rejection of physical force republicanism.

Key Features
. Includes sections on biography, historical, cultural and political contexts, poetry and other genres, as well as a concluding section on primary works and secondary criticism
. Pays special attention to the marriage of form and content in the poetry and how they work together to express subtle shades of meaning
. Offers close readings of Heaney's canonical poems throughout his career

Richard Rankin Russell is Professor of English at Baylor University. He is the author of Seamus Heaney's Regions (2014), Bernard MacLaverty: New Critical Readings (2014) and Modernity, Community, and Place in Brian Friel's Drama (2013).

Cover image: Don't Be Afraid, Dublin © Stefan Waldeck

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ISBN (cover): 978-1-4744-0166-1
ISBN (PPC): 978-1-4744-0165-4
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