Critical and biographical information on Henry Reed, World War II British poet, critic, translator, and radio dramatist — author of "Naming of Parts"
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Biographies of Henry Reed. Links to enyclopedic entries, book excerpts, journal and newspaper articles, and other work providing insight to Reed's life, career, and accomplishments:

Reed's chapter from Ian Hamilton's survey of twentieth-century poets, with analysis and biography.

Listen to BBC recordings of Henry Reed and actor Frank Duncan reading "The Complete Lessons of the War."

Bailey writes a remembrance of Reed's time at Bletchley Park during the Second World War.

Mentioned several times in discussing British poetry of World War II, Shires looks at "Naming of Parts" at some length.

"The Radio Plays of Henry Reed," a chapter by Roger Savage, detailing Reed's comedic and dramatic work for the BBC, with a bibliography of his plays.

Discusses Reed's contribution to the poetry of the Second World War.

Poet Jon Stallworthy's critical and biographical introduction to the Collected Poems.

Description of The Papers of Henry Reed collection, held at University of Birmingham Special Collections.

This encyclopedic entry has a short biography of Reed, and a bibliography which includes an extensive list of his radio dramas.

Poet Elizabeth Jennings' analysis of Reed's poetry, with a brief biography and a lengthy bibliography.

Harold Branam's entry for Reed includes a biography, analysis of the central works, and a brief bibliography.

Reed's obituary in the Telegraph.

Dedicatory letter to George D. Painter in the collection Hilda Tablet and Others.

Douglas Cleverdon's biographical note, focusing on Reed's radio drama, with a brief bibliography.

A biography of Reed by poet Jon Stallworthy, with comments on the poems, radio plays, and translations.

Reed's foreword to his collection of radio drama The Streets of Pompeii and Other Plays for Radio.

Richard Boston's obituary for Reed remembers him as the playwright and the poet.

An excellent interview with Reed, for a retrospective of the Hilda Tablet series of radio plays.

An introduction to the seven-part cycle of radio plays written by Reed for the BBC between 1953 and 1959. External link.

Reed's answer to a questionnaire about life as a writer.

John Lehmann considers Reed's poems, and reflects on their early correspondence.

Obituary written by Reed's friend and colleague, Douglas Cleverdon.

Jenkins feels that Reed's best poetry displays 'a special feeling for romantic potentiality, the moment before something tremendous happens or after it has receded.'

Reed writes high praise for W.W. Jacobs, author of "The Monkey's Paw," for his precision and economy of style, in this 1947 introduction to one of his longer stories.

Lomas found Reed's poetry boring in 1946, and he finds little more redeeming about it in 1992: 'Reed is simply not interesting enough linguistically.'

Frank Kermode's evaluation of the Collected Poems, with personal reminiscences of Reed in London and Seattle.

A letter to the editor from Ed Leimbacher recalls Reed's days as a visiting professor in Seattle.

An interactive Google map displaying places and events relating to Reed's life and work.

Allen's reminiscences of Reed, in Birmingham, Seattle, and London.

A brief biography outlining Reed's radio plays, poetry, and translations.

Harvey Breit's 1947 review of A Map of Verona and Other Poems.

Vernon Scannell's commentary on Reed's series of poems, Lessons of the War.

A short, but admirably thorough biography of Reed, focusing on the Lessons of the War, but also touching on the translations and radio plays.

A brief, flattering biographical note by poet and editor Kenneth Allott: "Naming of Parts" and "Judging Distances" are 'among the best and most intelligent poems produced during the war.'

Essay on the lowly and peculiar piling swivel, featured in Reed's "Naming of Parts."

This 1992 review of the Collected Poems portrays Reed as an anachronism whose later work could never compare to his 'outstanding' earlier poems.

Reed's preface to his adaptation of Melville's novel for BBC radio.

Interviews with Reed's acquaintances Henry Carlisle, William Matchett, Robert Heilman, Dorothee Bowee, and M. Taylor Bowee.

Newsletter article profiling the collection of Reed's papers, manuscripts and letters at the University of Birmingham. External link, .pdf file.

Derwent May, former editor at the Listener, reminisces about Henry Reed, shortly after his death in 1986.

Brownjohn feels Reed's 'shorter lyric pieces... [are] coherent and approachable, carefully shaped, both tender and sinister in mood.'

Major events in Reed's life listed by year, including his publications, travels, and productions of his radio plays and translations.

Reed's obituary, and notice of memorial funeral service.

The poet Marvin Bell considers Reed's "Naming of Parts," comparing it with his own experience training and serving in the U.S. Army.

Contains an excellent examination of the 'military/poetic' problem in Reed's "Judging Distances," and "Unarmed Combat."

Reed himself contributed the abbreviated information for his entry in Who's Who.

A short, encyclopedic biography of Reed, with links to related names and terms. External link.

Biography of Reed, with commentary on his major works and a short bibliography.

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Page last modified: 01 October 2016