Jonathon Bates Biography.. An Unauthorised Life. I really love Ted Hughes poetry, there are many poems of genius (and some duds.. but isn’t that the way of all things). I loved this biography because it really looks, primarily, at the creative processes of Hughes writing. I loved hearing about how driven he was to write, how he revised, revised and revised some more, continually.. how alive he was to ideas.
I read the truly brilliant Red Comet, (next pic) the new Plath biography a while back and together I think both biographies give a much clearer picture than the more biased writings out there at how these poets worked together and grew their talents to such incredible heights. Red Comet, like this Biography, was mainly focussed on the work.
Anyway, this was an inspiring book.
Unlike Byron,Ted Hughes wasn’t completely Mad or Bad but I think he was a little dangerous to know!