In this insightful collection, Richard Holmes, a celebrated biographer of Coleridge, offers a fresh perspective on the poet’s sensibilities and achievements. Holmes organizes the poems into eight thematic and genre categories, challenging the stereotype of Coleridge as merely a “metaphysical dreamer” and revealing him as a powerful Romantic autobiographer. Central to the collection are the Conversation Poems, a cohesive and beautifully composed autobiographical series crafted over twelve years. Additionally, the volume features lesser-known love poems to Asra, which blend subtle passion with intense directness, capturing Coleridge’s profound feelings for Sara Hutchinson, his unattainable lifelong love. The collection also includes the vigorous Hill Walking Poems, the hidden anguish of the Confessional Poems, and previously overlooked later works that reflect Coleridge’s restless old age and his ironic life reflections.

Why You Should Read?

• Explore the themes of love, longing, and self-reflection through Coleridge’s powerful autobiographical poetry.
• Discover the literary significance of the Conversation Poems and their impact on Romantic literature.
• Ideal for readers interested in Romanticism, poetry, and the life of Samuel Taylor Coleridge.
• This edition stands out for its insightful categorization and the inclusion of previously undervalued works.