In his fifth collection for Carcanet, Crichton Smith's powers prove undiminished. In what is essentially an extended love poem to his wife, The Leaf and the Marble begins as a holiday in Italy, and is transformed into an exploration of the founding myths of classical Rome. With the legend of Aeneas and Dido playing a central role, the poems explore the violence and cruelty of Roman society and contrast this with the world of Nature. While Crichton Smith contends that Rome was founded on the denial of love, the poetry in this collection is a testament to the enduring and humane potential of that love.