Paul Muldoon is one of the most exciting and accomplished poets writing in English. Few authors display such mastery of the language, form and measure of poetry, while at the same time opening poetry up to all the contemporary forces of disorder, contingency and confusion. But for this very reason, Muldoon's is a complex and demanding body of work. There has long been a need for a study of his work written both for the general poetry reader as well as those with a professional interest in poetry.

In this highly readable book, Clair Wills takes the measure of Muldoon's poetic gifts. She offers close readings of many of the major poems, while also assessing the general features of his unmistakable style, and his relation to significant predecessors such as Robert Frost and Seamus Heaney. Her book also highlights the major themes in Muldoon's poetry, such as autobiography and the question of origins, sexuality, Irish myth and legend, history and political violence in Northern Ireland, and the dynamics of cross-cultural encounters.

Clair Wills tracks Muldoon's poetic development, exploring the key concerns of each of his books. Concluding with an evaluation of Muldoon's latest collection, Hay, her study will be an essential reference point for discussions of this important poet.