Selected and introduced by J. M. Coetzee and Alissa Valles, this volume contains an essential collection of poems from one of the greatest literary voices of the twentieth century, Zbigniew Herbert. Born in Poland, Herbert was one of the greatest poets of that era, with a strong sense of humanity, even in the darkest times. This new selection brings together poems from throughout his writing career, from his first volume 'Chord of Light' in 1956, to works published posthumously in 2024. Direct, lucid, and sometimes playful with his ironic humor, Herbert draws inspiration not only from the history of his time but also from the Classical world. Here is a poet of great imagination and depth, always seeking to 'touch the essence': to reach the heart of life. He offers what we need in an age of growing anxiety and suspicion: a voice of clear, truly human observation and integrity. Ethical, often ironic, full of self-doubt; quick, original, and vibrant.

Pages: 288, Dimensions: 13x13cm