Barry Van Asten Biography

My name is Barry Van-Asten and I grew up under the shadow of the great Sarehole Mill, a place Tolkien often visited as a boy; living nearby he drew much of his inspiration from it - there is a magic about the 'Shire' which is timeless and immeasurable.
Books quickly became the greatest joy in my life, in fact it was Edgar Allan Poe who was my introduction to this sacred world! I immersed myself in the classics and began writing poetry at a young age. My early influences were: Akhmatova, Edward Thomas & A. E. Housman.
After enrolling on a writing course and an Open University course in the Humanities, I became an undergraduate and completed a degree in art at Roehampton University, Surrey. The poems from my first collection of poetry 'Ghost Blooms' and a few from a further collection 'Night Flowers' can be found on PoemHunter. I have also included a sonnet sequence called 'Songs of Love and Infinity'.
I also enjoy playing the guitar and have been in several bands. My other interests include: History, Landscape & Gardens, Archeology, Walking, Novels & Biographies, Films, Architecture, Ancestry and the Supernatural...