zoom_in Click to enlarge

About the House

▲ ▼

description About the House Overview

W.H. Auden's 1965 poetry collection About the House uses the literal rooms and spaces of a dwelling as an extended metaphor for domestic life, intimacy, and the passage of time. Its central sequence, 'Thanksgiving for a Habitat,' moves through areas such as the cellar, kitchen, and library, while other poems address love, aging, and broader civic themes. The volume reflects Auden's later style, marked by formal control and conversational diction.

It belongs to the body of work produced during his years living in Austria.

help About the House FAQ

When did W.H. Auden publish the poetry collection About the House?

W.H. Auden published his renowned poetry collection About the House in 1965. This work is considered one of his significant later collections, released toward the end of his life.

What is the overarching theme of Auden's About the House?

The collection uses the literal rooms of a house as an extended metaphor to explore domestic life and intimacy. Through different spaces, Auden reflects heavily on the passage of time and human relationships.

What are the most famous poems in the About the House collection?

The title sequence 'About the House' is the most famous portion of the collection, divided into two main parts that literally walk the reader through different domestic spaces. It is highly regarded for its thematic mapping of a home's rooms.

Did W.H. Auden write About the House in the UK or the US?

Auden wrote the 1965 collection while living in his home in Austria and his residence in New York. He had permanently relocated to the United States in 1939, becoming an American citizen and spending his later years moving between the US and Europe.

swap_horiz

Looking for About the House alternatives? Compare top competitors ranked & scored

arrow_forward