Echoes of Life and Death

This title is printed to order. This book may have been self-published. If so, we cannot guarantee the quality of the content. In the main most books will have gone through the editing process however some may not. We therefore suggest that you be aware of this before ordering this book. If in doubt check either the author or publisher’s details as we are unable to accept any returns unless they are faulty. Please contact us if you have any questions.

This early work by William Ernest Henley was originally published in 1908 and we are now republishing it with a brand new introductory biography. ‘Echoes of Life and Death’ is a collection of 47 poems by this highly under-read and under-rated English poet. William Ernest Henley was born on 23rd August 1849, in Gloucester, England. In 1867, Henley passed the Oxford Local Schools Examination and set off to London to establish himself as a journalist. Unfortunately, his career was frequently interrupted by long stays in hospital due to a diseased right foot which he refused to have amputated. During a three year stay at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, Henley wrote and published his collection of poetry ‘In Hospital’ (1875). This publication is noteworthy in particular for being some of the earliest examples of free verse written in England. Henley’s best-remembered work is his poem Invictus , written in 1888. It is a passionate and defiant poem, reportedly written as a demonstration of resilience following the amputation of his leg.