This long-awaited complete edition of the poetry offers serious students of Gerard Manley Hopkins far more guidance than has previously been available. The edition is scrupulously and fully annotated, with a commentary and introduction. The texts are arranged chronologically; rhythm is clarified where Hopkins's prosodic marks are eccentric; and thousands of words and phrases are annotated, many for the first time. The neglected early half of his poetic output, before the Wreck of the Deutschland, is given full attention.The substantial introduction gives the history of each album of poetic manuscripts and a critical analysis of Hopkins's prosodic signs and use of accidentals. Because of the ambiguities disclosed, the editor argues that a definitive edition is probably beyond reach, but the new light he throws on the poetry should prove a major stimulus to Hopkins criticism. The headnote to each poem sets out its intellectual or biographical background, and lists critical articles on it, particularly those published after the 1969-70 cut-off date of Dunne's Comprehensive Bibliography of Hopkins. The detailed commentary gives a wealth of illuminating quotations from Hopkins's letters, journals, and other writings, as well as directing the reader to further areas of research. Professor MacKenzie's intimate knowledge of the manuscripts results in separate descriptions of every draft, fair-copy, and significant transcript of each poem. The principal variants are noted, and there are cross-references to the editor's two-volume Poetic Facsimiles of the manuscripts.
