Poems and Ballads

About this book

Swinburne's poems are full of sea wind, forbidden desire, religious rebellion and voices speaking at the edges of endurance. The music of the lines can feel almost physical.

Poems and Ballads provoked controversy when it appeared, particularly for its erotic and irreverent treatment of sacred subjects. Alongside the notorious pieces are meditations on loss, history and the sea, handled with an extraordinary ear for rhythm. It is worth reading slowly, even aloud, to hear how the poet makes sound carry emotions that the speakers can scarcely contain.