New Selected Poems - Softcover

"The Presence is a fragment of autobiography written from the most private part of a poet's heart, with a pen dipped in blood and tears" (Carol Ann Duffy, The Daily Telegraph)

"For all its painful honesty [The Presence is] a surprisingly joyful and compelling book... Imbued with all the best qualities of what it means to human and in love" (Owen Sheers, Independent on Sunday)

"His best work in a long life of brilliant writing" (Maggie Gee, New Statesman)

"Abse's poems are filled with wonder. He remains one of our few great poets of married love" (Elaine Feinstein, The Times)

The year 2009 marks the 60th anniversary of the publication of Dannie Abse's first poetry collection, After Every Green Thing, and since that time he has published an astonishing range of books, including poetry, fiction, criticism and autobiography. He remains a writer of great distinction who is at the height of his powers - his memoir, The Presence, won the Wales Book of the Year in 2008. But it is as a poet that Dannie Abse is best known, and to mark this extraordinary milestone he has compiled a new and definitive volume of selected poems which includes new work combining both passion and maturity.