David Jones, The Anathémata

Faber & Faber, London 1952.
Jacket Design by D. Jones and G. Greene.

David Jones was a British painter and modernist poet. He painted mostly in watercolour, usually portraits, landscapes and various mythical or religious subjects. He was also a designer of inscriptions and a wood engraver. T. S. Elliot considered his writing of major importance. The Anathémata, published in 1952 was, in part, inspired by a trip to Palestine during which he was struck by the historic parallels between the British and Roman occupations of the region. The Anathémata, was described by W. H. Auden as “Very probably the finest long poem written in English this [the 20^th] century.” His work was strongly influenced by his Christian beliefs and Welsh heritage.