Peter Ackroyd’s compelling portrait of W. H. Auden, poet of a restless century.
 
Of all the English poets born in the twentieth century, Wystan Hugh Auden is by far the most significant. This critical biography explores the evolution of his poetic voice in tandem with his shifting beliefs—existentialism, Marxism, Freudianism, and Anglo-Catholicism—reflecting the intellectual climate of the century. Rooted in English traditions, Auden’s work reveals both public and personal histories, from the Depression and Spanish Civil War to his experiences as a gay man navigating repression and later liberation. The book traces his journeys from Oxford to Berlin, China, and America, bringing to life his turbulent era and the inner conflicts of his long relationship with Chester Kallman. This insightful and compelling account by acclaimed historian Peter Ackroyd captures Auden’s genius as both a historical witness and an enduring poetic voice.