Selected Poems

by Kenneth Slessor

One of Australia's finest poets, Kenneth Slessor would be outstanding in any company. His brilliance of technique gives an impression of unconscious mastery in poems that are always arresting in conception and illuminating in image. Slessor was born in 1901 at Orange in New South Wales. He was educated in Sydney and became a journalist in his late teens. Most of his life was spent in Sydney, which he grew greatly to love, and the city's Harbour, streets and people appear in a number of his poems. He died in 1971.

Genres: Poetry

146 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1944

Reviews

[Blair · Rating 3 out of 5]

A bit of a disappointment, to be honest. His highs (esp. "Five Bells") are so very high, but so much of this left me cold. I assume the collection is broadly chronological and I really didn't like anything at all from the first half. I wish he hadn't stopped writing poetry so early in life, as he just seemed to be hitting his straps with the later material. He looms large in the Australian poetry landscape but he really doesn't have the range of a Gwen Harwood or a Judith Wright or a John Kinsella.

[Peter Holford · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this anthology - early on I found many of his poems required extensive understanding of classics and classical mythology and history, but as I worked through the book, I really enjoyed the nautical theme that runs through so many of his poems. His preoccupations with time and death are quite powerfully expressed and his recurring motifs of time and tide quite remarkable. Interesting to note his relationship with Norman Lindsay and the resulting influence. The landscapes, most especially of Sydney Harbour, are impressive. Can't go past 'Beach Burial' of course.

[Vasile · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kenneth Slessor is known as the finest poet in Australian history. For me, i was expecting something more from him - mostly of the poems, I felt, were like "old" English by the use of " O Prince of Peace etc" language/style. However there are a hand few that are great in quality. These include, Five Bells, Stars, Sensuality and Polarities...(my opinion)

Have a read of a well known Australian poet, Kenneth Slessor