9This stunning anthology of poems by Edgar Albert Guest teleports the reader to the sensuous, lyrical world of which their author was master.

Known as the People's Poet for the power of his optimistic lyrics, Guest has occupied a place in the American imagination ever since the early 20th century. Although born in England, Guest moved with his family to the USA as a child, adapting and naturalising to his new habitat by the time he came of age.

Many of Guest's poems struck a chord in the national mood, lifting spirits during the dark years of the Great Depression, and emphasising the triumphs which transcended social class and other distinctions. Although his works are often sentimental in tone, Guest's ability to depict and describe a scenario in a simple yet beautiful manner sealed his popularity as an icon of literary merit in the USA.

In total, All That Matters harbours over fifty of Guest's finest poems, with the topics wide and the quality high. The mood varies from the humorous to the nostalgic to the poignant, with many verses evocative of the old-time traditional American culture.