Selected Poems

by Kevin Ireland

This new collection of poetry by Kevin Ireland brings together the best of his work, including some new and previously uncollected poems. The volume follows Ireland's progress from his earliest rhyming pieces to his more recent powerful work. Having lived in England for a large part of his career as a poet, this New Zealander fits well into the modern British tradition of verse-writing.

112 pages, Paperback

First published March 10, 1988

About the author

Ireland was born Kevin Mark Jowsey. As an infant he travelled to London with his parents where they lived for a time before returning to New Zealand. Shortly thereafter, his parents' marriage failed and he grew up on his maternal grandfather's Waikato farm, and then in Takapuna where he lived with his father. After leaving school, he studied at Auckland Teachers' College but did not complete a qualification.

After changing his surname by deed poll to Ireland in 1957, he headed to London in 1959 where he remained for twenty-five years (with the interlude of a short interval in Bulgaria, translating Bulgarian poetry into English); for two decades, Ireland was employed by The Times.

In 1986, Ireland was writer-in-residence at Canterbury University; in 1987, he was awarded the Grimshaw-Sargeson Fellowship; in 1989, he was the University of Auckland's writing fellow, assistant editor of Quote Unquote, and president of PEN, 1990–91.

Kevin Ireland OBE has published novels, short stories, memoirs, a book on fishing and another on growing old. Awards include an honorary doctorate, the 2004 Prime Minister’s Award for Literary Achievement and the 2006 A.W. Reed Award for his contribution to New Zealand writing.

Ireland died after a battle with cancer in Auckland at the age of 89.

From book blurb & Wikipedia