Celebrating his half-century, Markham returns - after the multiple poetic personalities of "Living in Disguise" (1986) - to writing in his 'own' voice. His work encompasses explorations of his West Indian background, notably in the 'Family' section, love poems, and poems on historical, social and political themes. The poems in "Towards the End of a Century" are distinguished by trenchant humour, astute observation and an understanding of the ironies implicit in his varied subjects and his approaches to them.