This book offers new insights into neglected but essential aspects of the work of one of the major twentieth-century poets - Ted Hughes. New essays by his friends and fellow poets Seamus Heaney and Simon Armitage lead a collection of largely new voices in Hughes studies offering fresh readings and newly available archival research. Beyond the poetry and stories, these contributors draw upon recordings, notebooks, letters, writing for children, prose essays and translations. Several contributors have carried out new interviews and correspondence for this book. For the first time, this book challenges established views about Hughes's speaking voice, poetic rhythms, study at Cambridge, influence of other poets, engagement with Christianity, farming, fishing and healing. Close readings of popular texts are accompanied by new arguments and contexts that show the importance of works hitherto overlooked.