These Bright Shadows

In her prolific work as a scholar and essayist-laying the "laborious foundations," as she called it-Kathleen Raine spent little effort elucidating her meaning as a poet; but it becomes evident to any attentive reader that these labors give a resonant indication of the premises and values that inform her craft-on which, as a poet, she proceeded and wished finally to be judged. If there is to be a worthy-if belated-critical assessment of Kathleen Raine's poetry, it must of necessity proceed on the basis of an appropriate understanding: especially in this case seeing that this is a poetry that rests upon premises far removed from the sort of values that, for the most part, are likely to preoccupy both the writer and reader of contemporary poetry. For this reason the reader will find in this book very little attempt to "judge" and every effort to elucidate. This collection of studies by the eminent perennialist author Brian Keeble, a long-time friend, colleague, and editor of the poet, is a series of regards, each having a focal point that differs from its neighbors, but which nonetheless is directed towards the same subject-the poet's singular imaginative vision. Considered together, the reader will find in this book a reliably authentic foundation on which to build an appreciation of Kathleen Raine's poetic accomplishment.