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.

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