Poetry of the Second World War

The Second World War is now recognized as a watershed for British poetry. The changes that arose were masked for some time by the enormous power and shock of the conflict itself, and by the restrictions on poetry publishing consequent on paper rationing and the general business of wartime.

Tim Kendall's introduction charts the history of the war poets' reception, explaining their relationship with their First World War predecessors and some of the reasons why they have never managed to reach such a wide audience.

This anthology seeks to showcase not only the harrowingly beautiful poetry born from the conflict, but also the radical changes to style and form that came from the epoch and altered the face of British poetry. Featuring famous poets, including Dylan Thomas, T. S. Eliot and W. H. Auden, alongside works by civilians and soldiers, the collection offers a symphony of different voices, all connected in their shared experience of the Second World War.

Why not come early and see our new exhibition 'London in the Second World War' exploring the experiences of Londoners during the Second World War and the effect it had on the city they knew. Using the London County Council bomb damage maps, personal diaries, original artwork and atmospheric photographs we will tell the story of the people that lived and worked in a city at war.

This free exhibition runs from 24 February 2025 to 30 October 2025.