ABSTRACT
Poet, playwright, translator, and BBC producer, MacNeice (1907–63) was born in Belfast. Though associated in the 1930s with Auden, Spender, and Day-Lewis, his poetry was in fact far less politicized than theirs; always, to use Auden’s phrase, ‘beautifully carpentered’, rhythmically live, and humanistic. Before the war he taught classics at Birmingham University, Greek at Bedford College, London, and then embarked upon an outstanding career as writer and producer for radio which lasted until his death. In addition to scholarly translations from the Greek and German which deserve lasting recognition, his published works include ‘Autumn Journal’ (1939), ‘Collected Poems’ (ed E.R. Dodds, 1966), and – in collaboration with Auden – ‘Letters from Iceland’ (1937).
