For the Unfallen: Poems, 1952-1958

by Geoffrey Hill

book

Genres: Poetry

50 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1959

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

Sir Geoffrey William Hill was an English poet and professor emeritus of English literature and religion.

Reviews

[Caspar "moved to storygraph" Bryant]

yeah this is unbelievable he's astonishing and really rather old testament things are swallowed in fire

I detect a new favourite bounding in

[Uther Pendragon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Geoffrey Hill was a master poet. This is an excellent volume of beautiful, well-crafted poems.

If at first you don't like it, at least try a few poems from the middle of the book. They may change your mind. This is a masterpiece of inspired, difficult, intelligent and awesome poetry.

[Jamie Dougherty · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars. I have a feeling he's just getting warmed up with this first collection. The mastery is on display though. Lots of ocean and burial imagery.
Favorites:
Genesis
The Bidden Guest
In Memory of Jane Fraser
The Distant Fury of Battle
Two Formal Elegies
Of Commerce and Society

[Alex Hubbard · Rating 5 out of 5]

'The second day I stood and saw
The osprey plunge with triggered claw,
Feathering blood along the shore,
To lay the living sinew bare.'

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

Geoffrey Hill’s first book. He was a very convincing poet in his themes, which seem to be similar to William Blake’s, but much more compressed. These are poems to read carefully and slowly.

[Michael Cross · Rating 5 out of 5]

Singing the balls-out balls of God . . .