Attuned to Alien Moonlight: The Poetry of Bruce Dawe (Studies in Australian Literature) - Softcover

Bruce Dawe is Australia's most popular and widely studied poet. This first full-scale critical study of his poetry to date reveals a richly complex and varied poet. Dennis Haskell argues that the widespread view of Dawe as a social satirist is limiting, and that Dawe is a more imaginative and lyrical poet than he has been given credit for, as the title "Attuned to Alien Moonlight" indicates.Daw'es apparent topicality and ease of access hides deeper, more mysterious, and more Romantic elements in his work. Haskell analyses well-known and some quite unknown poems in order to build up a picture of Dawe's poetry as a whole, and his chapters approach Dawe from some surprising perspectives - for example in relation to Asia and as a love poet.Aimed at both students of Dawe's work and the general literary reader, the book places Dawe in the context of Australian poetry and cultural values, and in relation to the larger traditions of poetry in English. It includes a substantial bibliography and a comprehensive chronology.

Dennis Haskell is the author or editor of 17 books, including poetry, literary and social criticism, and literary scholarship. His five previous books of poetry include the prizewinning All the Time in the World, published by Salt in 2006. His work has been published and he has has given readings of his poetry in many countries, including England, Germany, India, Ireland, Italy, Singapore, and the USA. He is Co-editor of the Australian literary magazine Westerly, and teaches at The University of Western Australia.