William Wordsworth

Covering a wide range of the poetry, John Williams discusses the critical issues that have dominated discussions of Wordsworth's work, from the end of the 18th century up to the present day. The chapters trace the evolution of the poet's compositions and his changing reputation during his lifetime, from a ridiculed poet to a revered elder statesman of letters. The 20th century's critical response to Wordsworth's poetry is closely examined, and there is also an assessment of how the 21st century reader can engage with his work.

Covering a wide range of the poetry, John Williams discusses the critical issues that have dominated discussions of Wordsworth's work, from the end of the 18th century up to the present day. The chapters trace the evolution of the poet's compositions and his changing reputation during his lifetime, from a ridiculed poet to a revered elder statesman of letters. The 20th century's critical response to Wordsworth's poetry is closely examined, and there is also an assessment of how the 21st century reader can engage with his work.

John Williams (1922-1994) was born and raised in northeast Texas. Despite a talent for writing and acting, Williams flunked out of a local junior college after his first year. He reluctantly joined the war effort, enlisting in the Army Air Corps, and managing to write a draft of his first novel while there. Once home, Williams found a small publisher for the novel and enrolled at the University of Denver, where he was eventually to receive both his B.A. and M.A., and where he was to return as an instructor in 1954.