The course will be taught by Michael Braziller, the Publisher of Persea Books, an independent literary press he co-founded in 1975, and which is devoted almost exclusively to educational and poetry titles. Mr. Braziller and his guest, Eamon Grennan, will look closely at the poems of Thomas Hardy, focusing on his "Poems of 1912-13," in particular "The Going," "The Voice," "His Visitor," "After a Journey," "At Castle Boterel," and "Where the Picnic Was." This cycle of poems concerns the death of Hardy's first wife and the problems in their marriage. The principal emphasis will be on the emotional and psychological life of the poems themselves. In addition, Mr. Grennan will read and discuss one poem of his own which was, in some way, influenced by Hardy. No prior registration or fee is required. Please email info@philoctetes.org for copies of the poems if you plan to attend.

Eamon Grennan is the Dexter M. Ferry Jr. Professor of English at Vassar College. A native of Dublin, he is the author of over nine collections of poetry and the recipient of several awards, including the PEN Award for Poetry in Translation. His work has appeared in many publications on both side of the Atlantic.