WILLIAM BARNES (FABER POETRY) (PB)

William Barnes (1801-1886) was born near Sturminster Newton in Dorset, of a farming family. He learned Greek, Latin and music, taught himself wood engraving, and in 1823 became a schoolmaster in Mere. He was deeply interested in grammar and language and waged a lifelong campaign to rid English of classical and foreign influences. Among his best-known books of poetry are 'Poems of Rural Life in the Dorset Dialect' and 'Homely Rhymes'. This collection of poems have been selected by Andrew Motion.