The Second World War is now recognized as a watershed for British poetry. The changes that arose were masked for some time by the enormous power and shock of the conflict itself, and by the restrictions on poetry publishing consequent on paper rationing and the general business of wartime. This anthology seeks to showcase not only the harrowingly beautiful poetry born from the conflict, but also the radical changes to style and form that came from the epoch and altered the face of British poetry. Featuring generous selections of famous poets, including Dylan Thomas, T. S. Eliot, and W. H. Auden, alongside works by civilians and soldiers, the collection offers a symphony of different voices, all connected in their shared experience of the Second World War.

Tim Kendall's introduction charts the history of the war poets' reception, explaining their relationship with their First World War predecessors and some of the reasons why they have never managed to reach such a wide audience. The work of each poet is prefaced with a biographical account which allows poems to be read in their historical context, and every poem is annotated with date of composition, publication history, and a gloss of words and allusions.