An exact mystery: The poetic life of Vernon Watkins

A soulful, insightful biography with a beautiful balance of factual detail and perceptive commentary. Watkins comes alive as a man and poet. I binge-read this book over a weekend and strongly recommend it!

The exciting new style in which this captivating biography is written is unlike any I have come across before. I think that is because the author is in love with the Poetry as much as the man. This truly riveting and intimate insight into the topsy turvy life of this until now unsung genius, remains throughout to be funny, moving, and profound. In order to get enough sleep I must say I had to force myself to put it down.

'An Exact Mystery’ is a wonderful biography recounting the poetic life and genius of Vernon Watkins which should do much to make his works better known. The biographer has undertaken in depth research and his close friendship with Gwen Watkins, the wife of Vernon, and others has provided him with a wealth of personal detail, anecdotes and information. Even without knowing anything of Vernon’s poetry this book makes a good read which is interspersed with poems and lines from poems that will help readers to become more familiar with his work. Access to his actual poetry is not necessary to appreciate this book though it will encourage readers to read his published works. Several books of his poetry, including 'New Selected Poems', edited by Richard Ramsbotham are available. The biography begins with captivating episodes describing Vernon’s boyhood days, his short time at Cambridge University and his often difficult life before he begins working quietly in a Swansea bank saying, 'A poet can do any work in the world." His early work or 'juvenilia', was unpublished and much was sadly destroyed by Vernon himself, some snippets are given which some of us will value and rate highly. Vernon was born a poet and poetry became his vocation and he was ever confident that his work would one day be recognized. He was a prolific writer who was reluctant to publish his work and made no effort to seek fame or fortune. On ambition he writes - 'A poet is born when his ambition is born; but he is born a metaphysical poet when his ambition dies' There are wonderful accounts of his close friendship with the younger Dylan Thomas and the book gives vivid accounts of their many meetings. They lived close to each other in Swansea and had the greatest respect for each other spending hours together talking, walking on the Gower peninsular and reading each others poetry. Vernon was also able, after some difficulty, to meet W. B. Yeats, the living poet whose poetry he most admired. This was to be the most important meeting in his life. It took several trips to Ireland before he was able to meet and talk with W,B. Yeats who died shortly afterwards. Vernon had earlier been deeply moved by a visit to Italy where he visited the grave of Keats. Much mention is made of the changes that Vernon underwent during his life which resulted in a metamorphoses and refinement of his poetry. There is a helpful selection of extracts from poems together with photographs. The book's cover shows an excellent and revealing portrait by Alfred Janes, who was a good friend of both Vernon and Dylan, and this gives some idea of Vernon's personality each time one starts to read the book. There is a chapter on the war years, beginning in 1939 and the devastating bombing of Swansea which had a tremendous effect on two very sensitive men, Watkins and Thomas which is expressed in different ways in their war time poetry. Vernon used his polished language skills, German and French, when helping British intelligence during the war. Throughout this time and indeed throughout his whole life, he was always able to also write his poetry. This book covers Vernon's life and poetry until 1941 and we can look forward to reading more of his later life in a forthcoming book. Though there are sure to be many more books by other authors discussing Vernon's artistic works 'An Exact Mystery' deserves to be his main biography.