The Cambridge Companion to Twentieth-Century British and Irish Women's Poetry

Jane Dowson is Reader in Twentieth-Century Literature at De Montfort University.

'This is an immensely rich collection in terms of the range of poets discussed, thematic focus and critical perspectives. The authors are equally alert to history and politics, on the one hand, and questions of form, style and aesthetics, on the other. In so doing, the collection reveals both the distinctiveness of individual poetic voices and a variety of fascinating dialogues and inter-connections between poets.' Mary Eagleton, Leeds Metropolitan University

• 1. Introduction Jane Dowson; 2. Post/modernist rhythms and voices: Edith Sitwell and Stevie Smith to Jo Shapcott and Selima Hill Ian Gregson; 3. Reframing women's war poetry Claire Buck; 4. Verbal and visual art in twentieth-century British women's poetry William May; 5. Towards a new confessionalism: Elizabeth Jennings and Sylvia Plath Jane Dowson; 6. The 'mid-Atlantic imagination': Mina Loy, Anne Stevenson, Ruth Fainlight, Eva Salzman and Anne Rouse Melanie Petch; 7. The Irish history wars and Irish women's poetry Catriona Clutterbuck; 8. Interculturalism: Imtiaz Dharker, Patience Agbabi, Jackie Kay and contemporary Irish poets Lee M. Jenkins; 9. Post-pastoral perspectives on landscape and culture Alice Entwistle; 10. Experimental 'work at the language-face' Linda A. Kinnahan; 11. Carol Ann Duffy, Medbh McGuckian and ruptures in the lines of communication Brian Caraher; Guide to further reading; Index.