Collected Poems

This annotated edition of Collected Poems showcases Kenneth Allott's complete works and introduces readers to eighteen new poems, enhancing his poetic legacy.

In Michael Murphy’s newly annotated edition of Collected Poems, readers are treated to a comprehensive collection of Kenneth Allott's poetic works, including eighteen newly discovered poems. This edition brings together all of Allott's previously published material, offering a fresh perspective on his contributions to poetry. The inclusion of these new pieces, some of which have only recently surfaced, enriches the understanding of Allott's artistic journey and the themes he explored throughout his career.

Kenneth Allott, born in Glamorgan and educated at Newcastle and Oxford, was a prominent figure in the poetic landscape of the late Thirties. Despite publishing only two volumes during his lifetime—Poems (1938) and The Ventriloquist’s Doll (1942)—his influence continues to resonate. The posthumous Collected Poems (1975) assembled his earlier works alongside a selection of unpublished poems, edited by Miriam Allott and Roy Fuller. Murphy's new edition expands upon this legacy, providing annotations and context that illuminate Allott's role as a significant war-time poet in the UK.

Allott's academic career at Liverpool University spanned from 1948 until his death in 1973, and his legacy lives on through the Kenneth Allott Lecture in Poetry, established by his wife. The release of this annotated Collected Poems in 2008 marks the thirtieth anniversary of the lecture and coincides with Liverpool's designation as the European Capital of Culture, making it a fitting tribute to a poet whose work deserves renewed recognition.