Additional information
by Sarah Houghton-Walker (Author)
Reclaims John Clare from myth through poetry, place, and personal voice.
John Clare's life has often been told by casting him in various parts--rural genius, thwarted lover, environmentalist, lunatic poet. This biography revisits those familiar stories with a fresh perspective, setting Clare's own words alongside a sharp reappraisal of his times. Drawing from his autobiographical writings, journals, letters, and poetry, it presents a rich, grounded portrait of the man and the places that shaped him. Clare's sense of identity, rooted in the land around him, was central to his voice as a poet. Through attentive readings of his verse, this book traces the creative and emotional arc of a life both ordinary and extraordinary. Clare emerges not as a tragic stereotype but as a deeply thoughtful writer confronting change with clarity and care.Author Biography
Sarah Houghton-Walker is a fellow of Gonville and Caius College, University of Cambridge. She is a founder and codirector of the Centre for John Clare Studies. Her books include Wordsworth's Poetry of Repetition.
Number of Pages: 224
Dimensions: 0.5 x 7.9 x 5.1 IN
Publication Date: August 04, 2026
