'Poetry at Present' (1930), written by Charles Williams, a reader of significant works of contemporary poetry. Williams' described the essays in his book as 'utilitarian', and he intended them to be used as a non-critical aid to poetry reading and interpretation. Charles Williams (1886-1945) was a British theologian, playwright, novelist and poet. As a member of the 'Inklings' literary group at Oxford, his work supported a strong sense of narrative. Williams acknowledged the spiritual undercurrents present in life and his literary explorations into Christian fantasy writing, such as 'Descent into Hell' (1937), earned him many followers. This classic work is now being republished in a new modern edition with a specially commissioned introductory biography.