Station Island

It helps if you have a background in Irish mythology to fully understand the work but can still be understood without this background and has lessons for the contemporary world

good purchase

The book was very cheap less than 2. I expected tatters but it was in very good condition, delivered fast, thanks. I woudn't dare to review seamus heaney, the work has an affect on my emotions, it moves me like a great painting

There's no doubt Heaney was a brilliant poet and a master of language. But he did tend to write for other academic poets. A lot of the poems are simply 'over my head' - I simply cannot make out what he is on about - and I have 4 arts degrees - what chance do most of us stand?! He's writing tributes to obscure poets who perhaps wrote in gaelic or something and he's translated their works. Some sort of introduction or brief commentary explaining who these people the poems are tributes to were, might help.

Just what I hoped for

I bought this specifically to read and re-read the translation of a poem written by St John of the Cross. What a triumph of translation. I'm growing to love Seamus Heany's poetic gifts which seem to combine his spirituality with heartfelt vision that's both sensitive and masculine. Truly uplifting inspiration!

Bought this as a gift for a lover for this Irish poet. It was a big hit.

Many of his poems are short and accessible. With a poem of this length and historical scope clearly some sign posts are necessary. Fortunately, Seamus Heaney has provided notes and additional notes are on Wikipedia. Your lunch: consider reading the notes and / or other poetic works, for example, Dante's Divine Comedy or James Joyce before starting. Thus, your "literary penance" would mirror Saint Patrick's purgatory.

I am sorry Mr. Heaney has left us........I have read and reread this book of poetry. It will stay on mynight table for a long while. I wish I could write like this (and think like he did).