Barbarians

poetry by Dunn

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July 20, 2026

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The term "barbarian" historically referred to people considered uncivilized or alien by another culture, often implying a lack of refinement or learning. Douglas Dunn's 1979 poetry volume, Barbarians, uses this term politically. Dunn critiques the established elite and intellectuals, championing the strength of working-class culture as a form of "barbarian" robustness. The poems in this collection challenge societal norms and hierarchies, contrasting them with the vitality of the working class.123

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Douglas Dunn
Barbarians (1979) is a highly political volume that attacks the sovereignty of the propertied class and Oxbridge intellectuals while arguing for the robustness of “barbarian” working-class culture. Although most critics generally admired the work, they had greater praise for St. Kilda’s Parliament (1981), noting Dunn’s…
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Barbarians (1979) is a highly political volume that attacks the sovereignty of the propertied class and Oxbridge intellectuals while arguing for the robustness of “barbarian” working-class culture. Although most critics generally admired the work, they had greater praise for St. Kilda’s Parliament (1981), noting Dunn’s…
Read More