Poet’s letters revealing ‘unique dialogue between writer and critic’ to go on show

The correspondence between the poet and literary critic Keith Sagar spans a period of almost 30 years, and has been described as a “commentary by Hughes on his own work”.

Academics at Sheffield University are planning an event to launch the collection later this month and said the 146 letters show a “unique dialogue between a writer and a critic”.

Professor Neil Roberts, from the university’s School of English, said: “Over the years of their correspondence and developing friendship Ted Hughes, who was generally very suspicious of critics and academics, showed unusual trust in Keith Sagar.

“One reason for their bond was undoubtedly the fact that they were both Yorkshiremen, and Hughes himself grew up less than 15 miles from Sheffield, in Mexborough.

“He wrote to Sagar with remarkable honesty about his poetry, including his struggles to fulfil his potential.

“He increasingly came to feel that his career had been blighted by his failure to creatively address his relationship with Sylvia Plath, and his letters to Sagar are among his most revealing expressions of his feelings about the tragedy in his life.”

Hughes and Sagar carried on their correspondence between 1969 until the poet’s death in 1998. Prof Roberts added that Hughes describes his creative process candidly and in great depth, offering exceptional insight into the poet at work.

The letters also cover such topics as Hughes’s travels, hunting, religion, education, and his relationship with Sylvia Plath, providing what academics said was “a significant new perspective on his life and work”.

An event entitled Poet and Critic: The Letters of Ted Hughes and Keith Sagar, will take place at the university on Monday, May 14. It is free to attend, but places should be reserved by contacting Adam Piette in the School of English by email on [email protected]