Paid on Both Sides

work by Auden

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July 1, 2026

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"Paid on Both Sides" is a "charade" written by W. H. Auden, first published in 1930. It is an early work that showcases Auden's unique blend of influences, including Icelandic sagas, Old English poetry, and psychological theories from figures like Sigmund Freud. The work is characterized by its imperfectly fused materials and a tension between subjective fantasy and an objective diagnosis of societal ills. While Auden's poetry often explored social and political themes, the psychological aspect was primary, with poetry functioning as a form of therapy. This early work, along with his collection Poems, helped establish Auden's reputation.1

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W. H. Auden
Life
The “charade” Paid on Both Sides, which along with Poems established Auden’s reputation in 1930, best reveals the imperfectly fused but fascinating amalgam of material from the Icelandic sagas, Old English poetry, public-school stories, Karl Marx, Sigmund Freud and other psychologists, and schoolboy humour that enters into…
Read More
The “charade” Paid on Both Sides, which along with Poems established Auden’s reputation in 1930, best reveals the imperfectly fused but fascinating amalgam of material from the Icelandic sagas, Old English poetry, public-school stories, Karl Marx, Sigmund Freud and other psychologists, and schoolboy humour that enters into…
Read More