Seamus Heaney

by Blake Morrison

Offers a brief profile of the Irish poet, examines the major themes running through his works, and assesses his place in modern literature

96 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1982

About the author

Blake Morrison was educated at Nottingham University, McMaster University and University College, London. After working for the Times Literary Supplement, he went on to become literary editor of both The Observer and the Independent on Sunday before becoming a full-time writer in 1995.

A Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature, and former Chair of the Poetry Book Society and Vice-Chair of PEN, Blake has written fiction, poetry, journalism, literary criticism and libretti, as well as adapting plays for the stage. His best-known works are probably his two memoirs, "And When Did You Last See Your Father?" and "Things My Mother Never Told Me."

Since 2003, Blake has been Professor of Creative and Life Writing at Goldsmiths College. He lives in south London, with his wife and three children.

Reviews

[Simon · Rating 3 out of 5]

An engaging essay by a very young Blake Morrison. He's clever and articulate enough to construct some interesting arguments but youth is the problem. He fails to see over the top of the furrows and concludes that, given time, Heaney may turn into quite an important British poet. I think he would re-construct a few of his arguments if asked to update the piece. But not before blushing quietly at the narrow horizons of his world picture.

[Ryan · Rating 1 out of 5]

When a bicycle tyre has a puncture, a bucket of water helps to find the damaged spot.

If Blake Morrison read entire chapters of this book out loud to himself today, I imagine he’d hear a lot of air hissing.