A Shropshire Lad

A Shropshire Lad is a collection of 63 poems by the English poet Alfred Edward Housman, published in 1896. Selling slowly at first, it then rapidly grew in popularity, particularly among young readers. Composers began setting the poems to music less than ten years after their first appearance, and many parodists have satirised Housman's themes and poetic style. Often noted for its homosexual themes, Housman sent a copy of A Shropshire Lad to Oscar Wilde when Wilde was in prison for homosexual acts. After Wilde's release from prison, Housman sent him an autographed copy.