SIR ALEX - SIMPLY THE BEST

 

TITLE - SIR ALEX SIMPLY THE BEST 

WRITTEN BY - HARRY HARRIS 

PUBLISHED BY - AD LIB PUBLISHERS 

PUBLICATION DATE - 14TH OCTOBER 2021

Often controversial, sometimes arrogant, intimidating but respected and with the achievements to back it up, Sir Alex Ferguson, known to nearly everyone in the game as The Boss or Gaffer, is widely regarded as one of the best football managers ever. A tough upbringing in one of the roughest parts of Glasgow filled the young Alex Ferguson with determination and a strong work ethic that helped him achieve his unprecedented success at Manchester United that may never be equalled. 

A book entitled “Simply The Best” is probably not going to be very critical about its subject, but it’s none the worse for it. Respected football writer Harry Harris errs on the side of caution regarding any unsavoury aspects of Sir Alex’s personality and methods but as an overview to Fergie’s life, “Simply The Best” is a solid and often funny read, and written fully in tribute to Alex Ferguson. 

Ex-players share their sometimes comical experiences of being on the receiving end of Fergie’s infamous “hairdryer”. Other footballing legends including “Pizzagate”, the “Tunnel of Hate” incident and Eric Cantona’s gymnastics are all covered. Fergie’s sweeping changes on joining United are explored; ending the drinking culture in the club, bringing in younger players, selling the Man U “brand” worldwide. Much of what he did was controversial at the time but Fergie had the backing of the MU board who gave him the time to turn the failing club around. The plaudits from the book’s contributors are almost entirely glowing and deeply respectful of Ferguson, even after they’ve been on the receiving end of his rage. To many young MU players he was a father figure. 

Due to it being very much a collection of anecdotes, the book doesn’t flow very well at times, but it is always interesting and there are nuggets to be found; there is a very revealing chapter on the players who nearly signed for MU, for example. Other chapters examine Ferguson’s love of fine wine and horse racing, and also his dislike of the media and his spats with players and managers such as Kevin Keegan. 

It is written without frills and many of the anecdotes are brutally honest and enlightening. We get a vivid picture of the real Alex Ferguson - relentlessly determined, passionate and honest. This isn’t the greatest Alex Ferguson book ever written, and isn’t really for casual readers, but it is recommended for fans of Fergie, Manchester United and football management.

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PETROGRAD

TITLE - PETROGRAD

WRITTEN BY - PHILIP GELATT

ART BY - TYLER CROOK 

PUBLISHED BY - ONI PRESS

PUBLICATION DATE - 11TH JANUARY, 2022

In 1916, in the midst of the First World War, the Russian city of Petrograd stands on the brink of revolution while Russia secretly attempts to broker peace with Germany. One of the most incendiary people in this powderkeg is alleged holy man Rasputin, the “mad monk”, trusted advisor to the Tsarina, and, as the official history dubs him, Russia’s greatest love-machine. Already the subject of gossip in the trenches and city streets, the Tsarina puts more and more faith in Rasputin’s advice. Eventually outstaying his welcome, the major players of the day plot to dispose of him in one of the most “extra” assassinations in history. “Petrograd” is the story of how a British intelligence agent gets caught up in these turbulent events. 

Tyler Crook’s artwork in “Petrograd” is quite stunning. It appears simplistic at first glance, but on closer inspection it blows you away. Some panels are filled with quiet emotion and depth, while others burst with kinetic action. Each one almost tells a story in its own right. The shape and positioning of the frames on each page is a masterclass in visual storytelling. The horrors of the Western Front and the faded grandeur of the streets of Petrograd and its people are vividly and memorably rendered. 

Philip Gelatt’s story is concise, tight and unflinchingly brutal when it needs to be. The shadow of Rasputin falls on every page even when he isn’t present. A story about secrets and conspiracies, it is a perfectly paced tale that leads up to the kinetic and brutal scenes of the assassination itself. The messy aftermath, which leads to full blown revolution in Russia, is powerfully intense. The characters are all well-rounded with believable motivations and distinct voices, from the conflicted Cleary to the hedonistic Rasputin himself. 

Presented here in a new edition, ten or so years after the original release, “Petrograd” is easily one of the best, most compelling historical graphic novels I have ever read and it comes highly recommended. 

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A SHORT HISTORY OF COFFEE

TITLE - A SHORT HISTORY OF COFFEE 

AUTHOR - GORDON KERR

PUBLISHED BY - OLDCASTLE BOOKS 

From the Boston Tea Party to the French Revolution, from business meetings to first dates, the humble bean has been the beverage of choice to accompany momentous and everyday events for hundreds of years. Gordon Kerr traces its history from its earliest appearance up to the present day.. 

The drink we know and love today dates back to prehistoric Ethiopia but was first mentioned in print in the 10th century, when an Arab physician discovered that it “fortifies the members…and gives an excellent smell to all the body.” And apparently the Prophet Muhammad could “unhorse forty men and possess forty women” after drinking an early form of coffee. Not exactly the kind of behaviour one is used to seeing in Costa, but anyone who has enjoyed a cup of black coffee first thing in the morning knows where he was coming from. Facts like this abound in this excellent book by Gordon Kerr. Comfy sofas in coffee shops? Introduced by two Syrian coffee-house owners in the 16th century.

Kerr also explores the darker side of coffee’s history, as its cultivation has often involved slave labour. The sections on this will shock you, especially when we are told that slave labour persists in some coffee-producing countries to this day. 

Coffee has also caused religious turmoil. In 16th century Cairo, when a preacher declared that coffee drinkers were not true followers of Muhammad it caused a riot, with worshippers attacking and burning a coffee house to the ground. 

Coffee has also played a significant role in the cultural history of Europe, and Kerr explores its growth in countries such as France, Germany and especially, as you’d expect, Italy. A chapter is also devoted to coffee’s impact on the Americas. 

The book is peppered with quotes from historical figures on encountering the miraculous drink. King Charles II, concerned about London coffee houses being used to spread gossip and “fake news”, sought to suppress them and coffee itself. He didn’t succeed. 

Gordon Kerr’s book is a well-written, meticulously researched, funny and thought-provoking history of our favourite beverage, with an astounding fact on every page, and is recommended reading for coffee lovers everywhere. 

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THE BLUE BOOK OF NEBO

TITLE - THE BLUE BOOK OF NEBO

WRITTEN BY - MANON STEFFAN ROS 

PUBLISHED BY - FIREFLY PRESS 

PUBLICATION DATE - FEBRUARY 6TH, 2022 

A post-apocalyptic novel set in the year 2026, “The Blue Book of Nebo” tells the story of Dylan, his mother, Rowenna, and baby Mona who eke out a living in the isolated village of Nebo in north-west Wales, learning new skills, and returning to the old ways of living. They are surviving in the aftermath of a catastrophe that Rowenna names “The End”, when the electricity went off for good following a nuclear war, and life changed forever. Despite the close relationship between them, the mother/son dynamic changes as Dylan must look after the family unit. Both of them have secrets, and these secrets are revealed as they record their thoughts and memories in a found notebook - the Blue Book of Nebo. Dylan writes about “now” and his mother writes about the “olden days and The End”. They agree not to read what the other writes…”in case”, but Dylan doesn’t know what that means. The story unfolds in Dylan and his mother’s entries in the Blue Book. 

Dylan is too young to fully remember the time before and just after The End and things like computers and mobile phones which his mother took for granted; he measures distances in “steps” as this is a measurement directly related to his daily experience of getting from A to B. Dylan’s “voice” is simple and unfussy, strongly evoking a life of hardship and necessity. But he is intelligent, resourceful and mature beyond his years, and he eventually realises that he “fits” into this new life. 

Rowena’s sections speak of the breakdown of society and panic buying in supermarkets, which resonates strongly with our current times. Rowenna is remarkably resourceful when The End comes, but she is permanently affected by it; she has been hardened and her sections are quite heartbreaking to read as we learn the truth about what happened to her after The End. 

Translated from the original Welsh-language edition, which was awarded Welsh Book of the Year in 2019, this book resonates with me as a native of that country, and many Welsh books are mentioned in the story; there is also a subtext about the loss of the Welsh language. Dylan loves to read and books are almost like characters in this story. The writing throughout is spare, concise and affecting. This is described as a YA novel, but the story transcends that rather restrictive tag by being quite harrowing in parts, and can be enjoyed by an older audience. Terrific and memorable in any language, with a profound ending, “The Blue Book of Nebo” is an absolute triumph.

 

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MARVEL - XAVIER'S INSTITUTE | SCHOOL OF X

TITLE - MARVEL - XAVIER'S INSTITUTE | SCHOOL OF X

EDITED BY - GWENDOLYN NIX 

PUBLISHER - ACONYTE BOOKS 

PUBLICATION DATES - 

EBOOK - DECEMBER 7, 2021

US PAPERBACK - DECEMBER 7, 2021

UK PAPERBACK - JANUARY 6, 2022 

 “School of X”, edited by Gwendolyn Nix, the latest book in the Marvel - Xavier’s Institute series, consists of seven short stories set in the new Charles Xavier Institute which is located inside a disused underground Weapon X facility. It features the exploits of the next generation of X-Men under the tutelage of senior mutants including Emma Frost, Cyclops, and Magneto. The stories are written by, among others, the authors of the previous books in the series. These new X-Men must fight alternative versions of themselves, battle psychic visions, vengeful cyborgs and more, whilst also coming to terms with their own powers and identities. 

The first story, “Your Fifteen Minutes” by Jaleigh Johnson, takes place on movie night in the Institute. After watching the exploits of a cinematic hero, Fabio Medina longs for his fifteen minutes of fame in which he can be the hero and save the day, and gets it. The story is fast-paced and twisty, with a surprising, feel-good ending. A solid start. 

“Call of the Dark” by Robbie MacNiven is a tense, redemptive tale as Graymalkin strives to conquer his fear of the dark, which may also mean conquering himself, in the deepest, darkest parts of the underground Xavier Institute. It’s dark and brilliantly written, with hints of the larger X-Men lore. MacNiven also wrote the previous novel “First Team”, and this story has references to it as well as some recurring characters. 

The third story is “Uncatchable” by Cath Lauria, and features one of the Institute’s oldest students, David Bond, AKA Hijack, who is able to control vehicles, wanting some “me-time” away from the Institute by taking part in a road race that turns out to be much more than it appears. This is a fun and exciting story with some great banter between Hijack and Alisa Tager, AKA Cipher, and well-written action. 

In “Eye of the Storm” by Amanda Bridgeman, Iara/Shark Girl and Sooraya/Dust, under the protection (kinda) of Santo/Rockslide, are building a dam in a river at risk of flooding and exposing the Institute when Shark Girl’s curiosity leads them into a battle for their lives. This is very much a traditional story, solidly exciting and action-packed with a boo-able villain. 

Fifth story “Of Dirt And Bones” by Pat Shand stars the so-called Stepford Cuckoos, psychic triplets Celeste, Irma and Phoebe. This is more of a visceral horror story than the rest, as Phoebe and Benjamin Deeds/Morph face nature fighting back. It also touches on the fact that mutants are seemingly born to fight their entire lives. 

“Kid Omega Faces The Music” by Neil Kleid is narrated by the powerful but fun-loving and rebellious psychic mutant, Kid Omega. Attempting to steal the ultimate piece of memorabilia from his favourite actor, he instead finds himself transported to pivotal moments in X-Men history. But will he be tempted to change it? And is he really having a crisis of conscience? It’s a fun romp yet also a profound and redemptive journey and one of the longer stories in the book, along with the final tale, “Depowered” by Carrie Harris. 

Left on their own while the teachers attend a meeting, the students have the worst party ever in the Danger Room which is interrupted by the arrival of unexpected guests who have a plan to fix the catastrophe of M-Day when many mutants lost their powers. Soon, however, an outside threat forces the students to finally bond as a team. This is a cracking story, with blistering action and strong character moments. 

All the stories in this collection are very good while some are really excellent; they don’t drag and just get on with telling the story. The tales feature callbacks to earlier novels in the series but can be read and enjoyed as standalone stories; indeed, they invite the reader to check out the other books which will enhance these stories even further. Obviously, this is a vastly different experience from watching an X-Men movie, but shorn of glossy visuals, the stories are more character driven and are much better for it. As with all the novels in Aconyte’s Marvel range this book is well-written, pulse-pounding fun.

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I received an advanced reading copy of this book in return for an honest review.

About Marvel Entertainment

Marvel Entertainment, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company, is one of the world’s most prominent character-based entertainment companies, built on a proven library of more than 8,000 characters featured in a variety of media for over eighty years. Marvel utilizes its character franchises in entertainment, licensing, publishing, games, and digital media.

For more information visit marvel.com. © MARVEL 2021

DECADES - JOY DIVISION & NEW ORDER

Full disclosure - I don’t really like Joy Division or New Order, but if ever a book was going to make me like them, then “Decades” by John Aizlewood would be the closest thing to it. 

Forever the darlings of the music critics, there has always been a sense that both groups are bulletproof and beyond true criticism. Like Berlin-era Bowie, Morrissey and The Smiths, someone has decided that THEY ARE IMPORTANT, and we need to keep talking about them, even when they’re being rubbish. Luckily, John Aizlewood is very good at talking about Joy Division and New Order. This book is for both hardcore fans and those whose knowledge extends only to knowing that Joy Division did “Love Will Tear Us Apart” and New Order did that surprisingly good World Cup song. 

As author John Aizlewood maintains in his history of the two bands, Ian Curtis “meant it”. Indeed, I think this is a crucial factor in their lasting importance. Dying young, ostensibly on the cusp of greatness, his legend remains preserved in aspic because he didn’t live long enough to become rubbish. Aizlewood writes vividly and economically on the early years of the band members and offers insightful analyses on each album and single; this is a real fan speaking. Lucid “sleeve notes” sidebars accompany the dissection of each album. 

Emerging from the “dirty old town” of postwar Manchester, a deprived yet indomitable city, grammar school boys Bernard Dicken (later Albrecht then Sumner) and Peter “Hooky” Woodhead bonded at school (sort of) over a shared love of music and misbehaviour. On meeting the intense and married Ian Curtis, the band Warsaw was formed, to some acclaim, with Stephen Morris eventually warming the drum stool. As Aizlewood memorably puts it, only death would change the lineup. After a necessary name-change, Joy Division were born, honing their dystopian music as a reaction to the post-industrial surroundings of Manchester. Aizlewood writes unsensationally on the suicide of Ian Curtis, quoting music press obits of the time, one of which claimed Ian’s death “froze” Joy Division in an eternal moment of almost making it. To do that, they would have to reinvent themselves as New Order, recruiting Stephen Morris’ girlfriend, Gillian Gilbert, on keyboards. 

All of that band’s hits & misses, highs & lows, splits & reunions, solo projects of varying quality and nightclub-owning shenanigans are examined by Aizlewood as New Order initially struggle to exorcise the ghosts of Ian Curtis and Joy Division. The biggest-selling 12” record (remember them?) of all time, “Blue Monday”, would change all that. New Order’s latter years are a litany of strained inter-band relationships, financial mismanagement and Hooky’s alcoholism; painful to read but sadly essential when discussing this particular band’s history. 

Saturated with cultural references from one of the greatest ever music eras and fully illustrated with photographs, (complete with irreverent captions), “Decades” is erudite but also incredibly funny; John Aizlewood eschews the usual pretentiousness that Joy Division engender in favour of a writing style which borders on satire. But his admiration for the music comes through strongly. The result is as good a history of Joy Division and New Order (including all the awkward things associated with them) that we could ever hope for. “Decades” is an outstanding, coffee-table-friendly history of two of the most interesting bands ever to come out of Britain.

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THE POPE'S GREATEST ADVERSARY | GIROLAMO SAVONAROLA

TITLE - THE POPE'S GREATEST ADVERSARY | GIROLAMO SAVONAROLA

AUTHOR - SAMANTHA MORRIS 

PUBLISHED BY - PEN & SWORD

 A lively and intelligent young man who was hungry for knowledge, Girolamo Savonarola’s unrequited love for the “girl next door” led him to depression and a hatred of corruption in the Church and the profligate ways of the rich. Resolving to take Holy Orders after hearing a friar delivering a passionate sermon, he set out on the path which would eventually lead him into conflict with Italy’s most powerful rulers and a brutal public execution, the grisly details of which we are not spared in these pages. 

“The Pope’s Greatest Adversary - Girolamo Savonarola” by Samantha Morris is aptly titled. A powerful orator who over-reached himself, he caught the public imagination at an incendiary and God-fearing time in history, and was said to preach with a “voice of thunder” as he predicted cataclysmic events, one of which ostensibly came true and only added to his power. One could argue that Savonarola was a kind of Renaissance Rasputin, who also had a swift rise to influence and power, had both powerful friends and enemies and met a brutal end. Was Savonarola a positive force for change or simply a clever demagogue? The speed and simplicity with which he was able to oust the ruling Medici family and effectively rule Florence seems incredible to our modern eyes, but these were very different times.

And what are we to make of the “Bonfire of the Vanities” - public burnings in which thousands of works of art and literature were destroyed for being ungodly in the eyes of Savonarola and his cronies. A complicated and imperfect man, then, but an important one; certainly he was considered dangerous enough for Pope Alexander VI to attempt to silence and then excommunicate him. By the time of his downfall, Savonarola had obviously begun to believe he was untouchable. 

Fully illustrated with paintings of Savonarola and photographs of relevant locations in Florence, this is a concise and vivid slice of history. Featuring a colourful cast of characters including everyone’s favourite hedonists, the Borgias, (a singular family on which Samantha Morris has previously written very successfully), it is a solid biography of a remarkable man who still divides opinion today.

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MARVEL UNTOLD | DARK AVENGERS - THE PATRIOT LIST

 

With the real Avengers gone, Norman Osborn, the erstwhile Green Goblin, has assembled his own Avengers, made up of supervillains masquerading as their heroic counterparts, to step up and protect the world…kinda. This is his chance to be a hero and put the Goblin to rest for good. But he has a hard job trying to keep his team members in check, inclined as they are to senseless violence, murder and wisecracks. When a list of their possible replacements is stolen by S.H.I.E.L.D. sympathisers, putting his power at risk, he unleashes the full force of his twisted team of heroes to get it back…preferably without telling them what’s on the list. 

“Dark Avengers: The Patriot List” is a new novel from the Marvel Untold line, written by David Guymer, relating a hitherto unknown tale based on the Dark Avengers comic storyline. And oh my goodness…it is SO good. Sparking writing, sassy dialogue and some of the best-written action scenes I have ever read. Concise, punchy prose propels the story forward with not a word wasted. Guymer gets the tone just right with a story pitched in that sweet spot between serious and crazy, with blistering action scenes and a pacy plot. 

One of my favourite things about “Patriot List” is that there are darkly funny moments aplenty - I mean pitch-dark, even during scenes of brutal violence. Memorably, there is an hilarious “Friends” (the TV show) reference which we can all relate to. Or maybe that’s just me… Anyway, you’ll find yourself flinching, chuckling then flinching again, and enjoying every minute of it. 

I cannot and will not get over how good “Dark Avengers: The Patriot List” is. Author David Guymer absolutely nails each of the diverse characters, from the gloriously shameless Bullseye, the god-like but troubled Sentry and especially Venom, who possibly has never been so sympathetically depicted. Whilst the reader may not exactly care about the characters in the regular sense, you do find yourself rooting for them in a weird way - they are so damned entertaining! This book is a joyous celebration of bad guys pretending to be good guys, and doing what comes naturally.

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********************************************************************************************************

I received an advanced reading copy of this book in return for an honest review.

About Marvel Entertainment

Marvel Entertainment, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company, is one of the world’s most prominent character-based entertainment companies, built on a proven library of more than 8,000 characters featured in a variety of media for over eighty years. Marvel utilizes its character franchises in entertainment, licensing, publishing, games, and digital media.

For more information visit marvel.com. © MARVEL 2021

THE BOOK OF MALCOLM

 Fraser Sutherland was a noted Canadian writer and poet, and it truly shows in the beautiful, honest prose in his book about the life and death of his son, Malcolm. Fraser completed this memoir shortly before his own death, which makes this book even more poignant. 

Malcolm had suffered from schizophrenia from his late teens and died on Boxing Day, 2009, at the young age of 26. Part one of the book deals with Malcolm’s death and the aftermath. It becomes clear from the tributes paid to Malcom by his friends that he was a rare being who positivity affected the lives of many people. Fraser’s reminiscences about Malcolm’s quirks and the role he played in the family dynamic are funny and touching. Malcolm was that special kind of person everyone gravitates towards. 

Fraser’s description of Malcolm’s death is unflinchingly honest and lucid. He shares his innermost thoughts about the well-meaning chaos of his son’s funeral and the throng of relatives that descended on them after. Anyone who has been in this situation will recognise this. Fraser’s way of dealing with Malcolm’s death jars with his wife’s, who, eager to talk about their son, can’t understand her husband’s reluctance to and distance from the subject. 

The second part relates Malcolm’s birth and early life. The section on the birth itself is both funny and slightly embarrassing as his wife’s anatomical details are laid bare. Malcolm becomes an imaginative and precocious boy and this section is a joy to read as we are introduced to his imagination in full flow in games and writing.

The third part of the book is the toughest to read as Malcolm begins to have psychotic episodes and other mental health problems. Extracts from his diary, both articulate and disturbing, show a troubled soul. The book ends more or less where it began, just before Malcolm’s last Christmas. 

“The Book of Malcolm” is superb. It is a short but powerful book which, as the afterword by one of Fraser’s friends explains, doesn’t offer any moral at the end but merely celebrates a life. Brutally honest and relatable, it is vigorously recommended for anyone struggling with mental health issues or the passing of a loved one.

INDEX, A HISTORY OF THE

Index, the humble. 

Most of us use a variation of it without thinking, but how many of us know when the index was invented and how it came to be there? Where would the Argos catalogue be without its index? Indexes still exist and are used everyday in our techno-world. When we use Google, we are not searching the internet; we are searching Google’s index of the internet. “Index, A History of the” is a love letter to the omniscient, alphabetical list that lurks at the back of all self-respecting books (including this one); your last hope when you can't remember which page something was mentioned on. I love a good index myself and am perfectly at home using one. Many’s the time I’ve had a “What no index?” moment after buying a new book which you’d expect to have an index only to discover there isn’t one. 

Author Dennis Duncan charts the index’s labyrinthine history in a lighthearted and supremely readable way. There’s been a welcome rash of unconventional and idiosyncratic books like this lately which is to be celebrated. This is a short book but it is wide-ranging and original. Every page has interesting facts that you probably didn't know you didn’t know. It is so filled with quirky nuggets that you will want to share them with total strangers (restrictions permitting). It is a pleasant journey into the development of the very mechanics of reading, and is also beautifully illustrated. 

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ALL THE NAMES GIVEN

Anyone worrying that Raymond Antrobus had mellowed after his debut book of poetry, “The Perseverance”, would do well to consider this extract from “Language Signs”, the third poem in his second collection “”All The Names Given”, 

“All the men who raised me are dead, those bastards. I’m one self-pitying prick of a son.”

Yes, these are angry poems, but they are often tinged with tenderness and hope. 

The book begins with poems exploring people through the ages who have shared the surname Antrobus, from slavers to painters, and their legacy, Achingly personal at all times, there are snapshots of Antrobus’ turbulent upbringing exploring themes of race, cultural identity and his own deafness, though the latter not to the same extent as in the previous book. It is always there in the subtext of his poems, though, as he relates awkward moments of miscommunication. The poems take us through Raymond’s life from difficult adolescence right up to his marriage. Many of the poems appear almost prose-like in structure, so much so that it has the feel of an autobiography at times and can be a tad overwhelming, but maybe that’s deliberate. The poetry of Raymond Antrobus is brutally direct and requires, even demands rereading. 

Having been blown away by “The Perseverance”, this new work doesn’t disappoint but it impresses in a different way. Antrobus experiments with poetic forms in order to tell his stories, something which is never less than thrilling. While I feel that this collection is maybe not quite as immediate as “The Perseverance”, it is still a raging, beautiful volume from one of the most important poets of his generation. Reading the poetry of Raymond Antrobus is a visceral experience that will leave you shaken.

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