'Sea-Fever' remains one of the most popular poems of the last century, and John Masefield one of the most popular poets, a superb spinner of yarns and ballads of tall ships, exotic seas, of the deep-rooted life of rural England, and of the great narratives of Troy and Arthurian legend. This book includes his most popular poems and a few previously uncollected rarities. All share Masefield's love of particular lives: he draws the reader into his stories with an incomparable music of language. This is a representative selection of the poems, in chronological sequence spanning his long career. The editor also provides a full introduction to his work.

John Masefield (1878-1967) is one of the great storytellers of English poetry, a spinner of yarns and ballads of tall ships and exotic seas, of the deep-rooted life of the rural England in which he grew up, and of the great narratives of Troy and Arthurian legend. Some included here--'Sea-fever' and 'Cargoes'--are among the best-loved poems in English; others are little known; a few are hitherto uncollected rarities. All share Masefield's love of the lives of seafarers and those who work the land, and his ability to draw the reader into their stories.

A racing ballad about a dream which turned into a feat of madness: a vice familiar to many in the world of gambling!