King Log is a celebrated collection of poetry by British poet Geoffrey Hill, first published in 1968. It was his second major collection and contains poems that explore themes of history, morality, and Christianity, particularly in the aftermath of World War II and the Holocaust.
Key Details
Author: Geoffrey Hill
Publication Year (First Edition): 1968
Publisher: Andre Deutsch (London)
Content: The book features eighteen poems and a short essay.
Title Reference: The title alludes to Aesop's fable, "The Frogs Asking for a King," where the frogs ask Jupiter for a ruler, and he sends them an inanimate log.
Illustration: The illustration on the dust jacket is taken from a 15th-century woodcut edition of Aesop's fables in the collection of the British Museum.
The poems in King Log are noted for their complexity, dense language, and "high seriousness" in their moral application to life. It is considered an excellent introduction to Hill's work and his distinct poetic talent.
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