Hughes's Crow (1970), a mythological trickster sequence, is among the most violent and vital collections in English: creation mythology rewritten with black humor and animal ferocity. Birthday Letters (1998), his 88-poem account of his marriage to Sylvia Plath, broke a 35-year silence and became an instant bestseller. Between those poles lies a body of work (Lupercal, Wodwo, Remains of Elmet) that takes animal life as seriously as human. Forward Prize 1999.

The case for it, the case against, and the rest of the canon open with Pro.