Heaney Poetry To Be Published / Mann’s Archive Auction – Poetry News Roundup February 7th

This week’s poetry news round up takes a look at the new edition of Seamus Heaney poetry that is to be published and the auction of Hamish Mann’s archive.

Definitive Edition of Seamus Heaney Poetry to be Published

The publishing company Faber have announced that they will be publishing a definitive collection of the poetry of the late Seamus Heaney. The long-awaited collection will feature a number of poems written by the Nobel Prize-winning poet that have never been published before.

Due to be released on October 9th, “The Poems of Seamus Heaney” will be collection of all of the poetry that was published during Heaney’s lifetime together with a number that appeared after he died. Each of the collections which are included in the book will also have a critical introduction and notes that look at the history and development of each poem.

Speaking behalf of the family, Catherine Heaney said that the collection was the work of the last decade in putting together and a great achievement. The collection will allow readers to see her father’s poetic life in all of its ambition.

On June 19th, Faber are also planning to reissue “North” to mark the 50th edition of the poetry collection, this book will be available in hardback.

Heaney was born in 1939 and died in August 2013. Since his death, Faber have published his

Scottish War Poet Archive to go Under the Hammer

The notebooks, poems, letters, and photos of James Alexander “Hamish” Mann are due to go under the hammer at auction. They have been valued at between £3000 and £4000.

Mann, who died in 1917 was an Edinburgh poet who was known to all his friends as Hamish. He attended George Watson’s College before going on to serve in the Royal Highlanders, Black Watch during World War I. His life was cut short tragically during the Battle of Arras. Like many young men of the era, he died at the age of 21.

Speaking about the collection, the auctioneers stated that whilst his name might not be as familiar as others from the era, Hamish Mann should now be considered to be a part of the canon of First World War poets, the men he admired. The collection itself offers the opportunity to own a real piece of social history and puts a human face to the sufferings and struggles of war.

Mann first attempted to enlist in 1914 but a heart condition made him unfit to fight. He took up a position at Craigleith Military Hospital, and during his time there he helped to set up a magazine. In 1915, with the change for entry requirements to the army, which followed high casualty numbers he was passed fit for active service.

Like the works of poets like Wilfred Owen, Mann’s writing looks at the time that he spent in the trenches. However, while at times it is bleak it does contain some sparks of his wit. His poetry was collected together by his parents and was published posthumously under the title “A Subaltern’s Musings” in 1918.