| Author | James McAuley |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Genre | Poetry collection |
| Publisher | Angus and Robertson |
Publication date | 1956 |
| Publication place | Australia |
| Media type | |
| Pages | 69 pp. |
| Awards | 1956 Grace Leven Prize for Poetry |
A Vision of Ceremony is a collection of poems by Australian writer James McAuley, published by Angus and Robertson in 1956. [1]
The collection contains 31 poems, most of which had been previously published in Australian literary publications such as The Bulletin , Hermes, Meanjin , Southerly and various original poetry anthologies. [2]
Writing in The Bulletin a reviewer noted McAuley's "shrewd, nuggety plainness of style" and the poet being "more often dogged than solemn." [3]
Ian Mair, in The Age, thought of the poet that the "irony and hard glitter that once he had have now gone" concluding that McAuley is best "when he is a romantic." [4]
The Oxford Companion to Australian Literature states: "Using the Greek tales based on the Prometheus legend, McAuley comments adversely on modern civilization and affirms traditional moral and spiritual values." [5]
The Oxford Literary History of Australia noted that, with this collection, McAuley "turned away from all those soul-struggles to the disappointment of many of McAuley's contemporaries; it sought a broad, well-lighted tradition." [6]