In her prolific work as a scholar and essayist-laying the "laborious foundations," as she called it-Kathleen Raine spent little effort elucidating her meaning as a poet; but it becomes evident to any attentive reader that these labors give a resonant indication of the premises and values that inform her craft-on which, as a poet, she proceeded and wished finally to be judged. If there is to be a worthy-if belated-critical assessment of Kathleen...