A long and ambitious poem, A Furnace presents its recurrent themes and images in the manner of an extended orchestral work. It invokes the power of industrial culture in terms of the author's imaginative responses to his native city of Birmingham. From reviews of earlier works: "Fisher's writing is poised and beautifully controlled."--London Review of Books. "Has charm and many flashes of brilliant writing...witty and humane."--Peter Porter, Observer Roy Fisher was until recently Senior Lecturer in American Studies, University of Keele. He is currently devoting himself full-time to writing. His earlier publications include Poems 1955-1980.