Hughes's *New Selected Poems* was published just three years before his
death. Some writers in their later life have attempted a kind of
self-revisionism that borders on the insane, making final, definitive
selections of their work that have mystified and antagonised scholars
and readers. Hughes, however, was as sharp as ever, and possibly at his
shrewdest during his later years, and there is every reason to trust in
the final judgement he made concerning the poems he believed to be most
successful. It is not the purpose of this collection to revise that
judgement, but simply to further refine it into a more concentrated
form. Ideally, I would have liked to have included pieces from other
genres, such as Hughes's theatre works, and at least one short story,
probably *The Deadfall*. But for the moment there is a greater pressure
to concentrate only on the poems, and hopefully readers will be
persuaded to investigate other dimensions of his work, just as Hughes
himself investigated the boundaries of his talent through explorations
into drama and prose.
1. What comparison is made between Hughes and other writers in later
A. Hughes had more creative energy.
B. Hughes was less willing to accept advice.
C. Hughes's critical sense remained more acute.
D. Hughes was less concerned about his reputation.
2. When selecting from Hughes's work, which general principle has the
A. He has compensated for omissions in a previous edition.
B. He has focused on the best of Hughes's lesser-known writing.
C. He has presented a wide sample of types of writing.
D. He has largely reflected Hughes's own preferences.
3. According to the writer, what did contemporary poets envy Hughes