Maxwell's writing is often compared quite favorably to W. H. Auden's work. To make this comparison, read Auden's Collected Poems (1991). This is an extensive collection of Auden's poems, which capture, at times, his emotional responses as he reflects on such topics as the political, philosophical, and religious sentiments of his time.

Other: British and Irish Poetry since 1970 (1999), edited by Richard Caddel and Peter Quartermain, is a good place to start for an introduction to other contemporary British poets. Included in this collection are works from Caribbean-influenced poets as well as more traditional lyric poetry. Observations from several different ethnicities are represented, most with unconventional outlooks.

In an attempt to help bridge the cultural gap between the United States and Great Britain, Dana Gioia has put together a book of British poems and offers his own interpretations. The book is called...