A Shropshire Lad was first published in 1896 at A. E. Housman's own expense. The collection of lyrical poems became hugely successful following the Second Boer War and World War I, with themes such as nostalgia for one's home and the patriotic celebration of the life of the solider striking a chord with English readers. This collection contains Housman's greatest works, demonstrating the lyrical precision and emotional depth of his writing. It includes 'To an Athlete Dying Young', a lyrical elegy to a life lost at its prime and 'When I was One-and-Twenty', a love poem on the ignorance of youth.

Alfred Edward Housman (1859-1936), usually known as A. E. Housman, was an English classical scholar and poet, best known for his collection of poems A Shropshire Lad. His poems conjure up a potent and idyllic rural world imbued with a poignant sense of loss and sadness.