Is poetry political? With what sense of social and political contexts should modern readers best approach the poetry of today and bygone times? David Simpson argues for a revised view of William Wordsworth (1770-1850), one that encompasses an understanding of the social and political elements inherent in Wordsworth’s poetic expressions as well as our continued aesthetic appreciation of Wordsworth as a visionary poet of nature.
At the time of this interview, Simpson, a Fellow at the National Humanities Center (1984-85), was professor of English at the University of Colorado.
This edition of Soundings was conducted by Wayne J. Pond.
