Move To England And Literary Breakthrough

In August 1912, American poet Robert Frost moved with his family to England at age 38 after selling his farm in Derry, New Hampshire, seeking publication opportunities following repeated rejections in the United States. Frost used the proceeds from the sale to finance the relocation, settling first in Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire. At the time, he had written extensively but had not yet published a full poetry collection. Within months of arriving, Frost began connecting with writers and publishers in the British literary scene. His manuscript for A Boy’s Will was accepted by London publisher David Nutt, and the collection was published in 1913. The volume included early poems such as “Into My Own” and introduced Frost’s rural themes and reflective lyric style to a wider audience. Frost’s second collection, North of Boston, followed in 1914, also published in London. The book focused on narrative poems rooted in New England settings and was noted for its use of blank verse and conversational dialogue. Poems including “Mending Wall,” “The Death of the Hired Man,” and “Home Burial” drew attention from critics and fellow writers. During this period in England, Frost met poets such as Ezra Pound and Edward Thomas, whose support contributed to his growing recognition. By the time Frost returned to the United States in 1915, both collections had established his reputation, and American publishers began issuing his books, including a U.S. edition of North of Boston later that year.