Tongue of Water, Teeth of Stones: Northern Irish Poetry and Social Violence

by Jonathan Hufstader

Overview

For over thiry years, Northern Ireland has witnessed a profound civil conflict, often very violent, known as "The Troubles". It is perhaps paradoxical that the province is also the home of some of the finest poets writing in English today.

In his powerful study, Jonathan Hufstader examines how a number of contemporary Northern Irish poets, including Seamus Heaney, Paul Muldoon, Ciaran Carson and Medbh McGuckian, have explored fully the resources poetic form in their various responses to cultural conflict and political violence.

Focusing both on the stylistic features of the poetry and its social and political contexts, Hufstader explores these poets' often conflicting claims to solidarity and artistic integrity, providing an incisive analysis of the vexed relationship between lyric poetry, violence, and society.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780813189628
Publisher:	University Press of Kentucky
Publication date:	12/14/2021
Series:	Irish Literature, History, and Culture
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	336
File size:	502 KB
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

Jonathan Hufstader is assistant professor of English at the University of Connecticut.

Editorial Reviews

Ambitious, provocative, and ultimately disturbing.... Should ignite lively debate in the years to come.

Irish Literary Supplement

Hufstader's own elegant writing conveys some of the lyric power found in the poetry.

Choice

Shows how a number of contemporary Northern Irish poets—Seamus Heaney, Derek Mahon, michael Longley, Paul Muldoon, Tom Paulin, Ciaran Carson, and Medbh McGuckian—explore the resources of language and poetic form in their various responses to cultural conflict and political violence.

McCormick Messenger

A searching, honest, and impressive analysis of some of the best poetry written in the English language in our time.

series editor Jonathan Allison

Successfully repositions the focus onto the poetry rather than the historical forces working around the poetry.

South Atlantic Review

"Hufstader's own elegant writing conveys some of the lyric power found in the poetry." — Choice

"Ambitious, provocative, and ultimately disturbing.... Should ignite lively debate in the years to come." — Irish Literary Supplement

"A searching, honest, and impressive analysis of some of the best poetry written in the English language in our time." — Jonathan Allison, series editor

"Shows how a number of contemporary Northern Irish poets — Seamus Heaney, Derek Mahon, michael Longley, Paul Muldoon, Tom Paulin, Ciaran Carson, and Medbh McGuckian — explore the resources of language and poetic form in their various responses to cultural conflict and political violence." — McCormick Messenger

"Successfully repositions the focus onto the poetry rather than the historical forces working around the poetry." — South Atlantic Review

From the Publisher