Although modern English and Irish poetry arises from the different cultures of the two countries these poets have shared - throughout this century - the same editors and publishers, competed for the same prizes, and been judged, ostensibly, by the same standards. This book examines contexts for these exchanges over four decades - tracing the lineages of Yeats and Hardy from their meeting in 1912 through WWI, the 30s, the 60s, and the 90s, - to see what influences and ideas are exchanged and how poetic value accrues.

'...a useful book...fills an empty niche...' - Choice