Dear blog, A review I wrote of books by Thomas A Clark, Fred Voss and Tom Leonard has appeared in the latest issue of Poetry London. Then a few pages later, Philip Gross (recent Eliot prizewinner) has penned some words about City State, an anthology I edited last year. All good.
Author Archives: Tom Chivers
Desert Island Discs: No. 2 ‘Miserere mei deus’
I was first introduced to Gregorio Allegri’s ‘Miserere mei deus’ (the Italian composer’s setting of Psalm 51) by my mother whilst she was on a research sabbatical from teaching at Merton College, Oxford. I guess around 1995. Composed in the 1630s for exclusive use in the Sistine Chapel, it’s an extraordinarily beautiful piece of RenaissanceContinue reading “Desert Island Discs: No. 2 ‘Miserere mei deus’”
Desert Island Discs: No. 1 ‘Blue Flowers’
Welcome to a new sporadic series – my very own Desert Island Discs. Though I’m not limiting myself to eight. And the order is accidental. I’ll post stuff up when I think of it. So, to start. ‘Blue Flowers’ by Dr Octagon The above is actually the Dan the Automator remix, but I like the videoContinue reading “Desert Island Discs: No. 1 ‘Blue Flowers’”
Mythogeography
Bombardment of information about a new book by Phil Smith from Triarchy Press – Mythogeography: A Guide to Walking Sideways. There’s a video for starters. And a separate website for anyone interesting in the concept of Mythogeography. To be honest, this is totally my kind of thing. Part lecture, part creative wandering, part esoteric conspiracy theory. A blendContinue reading “Mythogeography”
The English Sweats
I’ve just posted my review of The English Sweats by James Brookes (above) over at Hand + Star. It’s a fantastic little book-slash-pamphlet. I give it 4 stars (out of 5). Whoop!
Pine release
walked into the mountains (actually rain: rain on path rain on dogs rain falling in the bay through sun direction of ie. towards the fuming mountains (also, on crown of Hitler Youth til slick) where the mist (a kind of purple) clung or shrouded whatever and (it fell on our faces and hands) Continue reading “Pine release”
Voices Off
Alison Brackenbury reviews The Terrors in the latest issue of PN Review (#191, Jan-Feb 2010). Is this poetry or prose? It flashes across boundaries. Its allusiveness would make it elusive to many readers. But not all poetry has to be straightforward. The Terrors is clever, elegant and troubling, not least in a late, mysterious addressContinue reading “Voices Off”
Lake Shore Drive
Just dropping by to recommend Lake Shore Drive by John Wilkinson. It’s 100% excellent, believe.
Awake to the strangeness
Young poet Kayo Chingonyi has reviewed The Terrors over at Todd Swift’s poetry blogzine Eyewear. Kayo has lots of nice, and incisive, things to say about the pamphlet, such as: [The] satirical look at the consolation offered by notoriety after death not only brings into focus our morbid fascination with those who teeter at theContinue reading “Awake to the strangeness”
Yeah, f**k you Cowell
Just spotted that my poetry collection has appeared in Salt Publishing’s Top 20. Or rather, that it’s just sneaked in. At No. 20 (or, if you discount the fiction books and anthologies: No. 12!). So go on, treat yourself, or a significant other, at Christmas by purchasing a copy of How To Build A City, which contains poemsContinue reading “Yeah, f**k you Cowell”
Tom Chivers 