PUBLICATION DATE 24/09/2026

Beautiful images by photographer John Hayward appear in a new, full colour edition of A Shropshire Lad.

It updates a previous version of A E Housman's much-loved book - also illustrated by John - which has sold out.

A E Housman’s lyrical English poem, which was first published in 1896, explores the universal themes of loss, love and the passage of time.

John’s photographs capture the very essence of Shropshire, ranging from the rural landscapes of the Clun Valley and beyond to the towns and villages of this glorious county.

He was often approached by curious passers-by while out taking pictures for this latest edition.

“People always like to know what I am working on, and when I told them they would immediately start quoting lines from A Shropshire Lad,” he said.

“Housman’s work is so widely known and loved, and it was an absolute joy to be involved in this project for a second time.”

Brand new photographs are used throughout this latest edition, which is published by Merlin Unwin Books of Ludlow. 

It is the only photographic version of A Shropshire Lad in which the county's stunning landscapes - which have scarcely altered since Housman’s day - have been matched with the stanzas on each page.

:: A Shropshire Lad (hardback, Merlin Unwin Books, 2026) costs £20 and is dispatched via Royal Mail Tracked 48. Copies signed by the photographer are available.