In 1996, books of Auden’s poetry, repackaged into a Four Weddings and a Funeral (1994) film tie-in volume, were selling circa 100,000 copies per year, a not insignificant quantity for a poetry book.

These sales were due in large part to the role Funeral Blues plays in one of the film’s most well-remembered scenes; the poem is read by one character, Matthew, at his boyfriend Gavin’s funeral.

Despite the popularity of this scene and its role in the Auden revival, the cover of the tie-in book denies the gay influence, showing instead Hugh Grant’s straight leading man.