A Clip of Steel

work by Blackburn

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June 24, 2026

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A Clip of Steel is a 1969 autobiographical novel by English poet, novelist, and critic Thomas Blackburn. The novel delves into Blackburn's personal experiences, including a childhood marked by a difficult relationship with his father, a mental breakdown in his early twenties, and his subsequent psychoanalysis. Blackburn's work is often characterized by its introspective nature and spiritual themes. The term "steel" itself refers to a strong and versatile alloy of iron and carbon, known for its hardness and use in tools and weapons.12

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Thomas Blackburn
In his autobiographical novel, A Clip of Steel (1969), he depicts a childhood tormented by a tense and repressive father, his own breakdown in his early twenties, and his successful psychoanalysis. Blackburn’s first notable volume of verse was The Holy Stone (1954). His later volumes include A Smell of…
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In his autobiographical novel, A Clip of Steel (1969), he depicts a childhood tormented by a tense and repressive father, his own breakdown in his early twenties, and his successful psychoanalysis. Blackburn’s first notable volume of verse was The Holy Stone (1954). His later volumes include A Smell of…
Read More