The Rough Field

by John Montague

The sixth edition of this major modern poetic sequence concludes with a revised and expanded section of notes by Thomas Dillon Redshaw. Since its publication in 1972, The Rough Field has been praised as the most significant attempt in poetry to understand Northern Ireland’s troubled history.

Genres: Poetry, Ireland, Irish Literature, Classics

96 pages, Paperback

First published October 28, 1979

About the author

John Patrick Montague, BA, MA, MFA, DLitt

American-born Irish poet, writer of short fiction, essayist, and professor. Graduate of University College Dublin and the University of Iowa.

Awarded honourary doctorates by the State University of New York at Buffalo, the University of Ulster, and University College Dublin. Recipient of the American Ireland Fund Literary Award, the Irish-American Cultural Institute’s Award for Literature, a Guggenheim Foundation Fellowship, and Australia's Vincent Buckley Poetry Prize.

He was appointed the first occupant of the Ireland Chair of Poetry. A native of Brooklyn, New York, he became Distinguished Writer-in-Residence for the New York State Writers' Institute and Professor of Poetry and Writer-in-Residence at State University of New York at Albany. He also taught at University College Cork, Queen’s University in Belfast, Trinity College Dublin, and his alma mater University College Dublin.

In addition to receiving honourary doctorates in the United States and Ireland, France invested him a Chevalier de la Légion d’Honneur.

Reviews

[Caitlin · Rating 5 out of 5]

As another reviewer said, this collection is epic. This is my favorite contemporary Irish literary work because of the unrelenting, continuous roll of language and atmosphere. The deep entanglement of politics, religion, and family in the heart of Montague- and the pain that they cause- are obvious throughout.
I had to research Irish political history just to get through the first two pages. This is by no means a light read unless you already have an understanding of Irish history. This book also contains fantastic woodcut prints that illustrate historical themes and events and that help contextualize some of the references and Montague's attitudes.

[emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really, really beautiful.

[Maddie Margioni · Rating 4 out of 5]

it flowed well in my brain reading it but according to my prof i did not understand what i thought i understood

[Alice Rovani · Rating 5 out of 5]

A giant hand
as we pass by, reaches down
to grasp the fields we gazed upon

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Epic poetry that traces northern Irish colonial history back to the Elizabethan era. Very powerful.

[Stephen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Subtly musical verse dealing with Irish topics.

[Mills College Library]

821.914 M759r 1972