"Roland Mathias is one of the most important writers to emerge in Wales since World War II. This volume traces his poetic development, from his first collection, Days Enduring, to his most recent, A Field at Vallorcines. Edited with the full cooperation of the author, it contains a number of previously unpublished works. Fully annotated, it throws light on the composition of the poems, offers explanations of the many historical and topographical allusions they contain, and helps to elucidate occasional obscurities in the writing."