Wednesday, 6 January 2010
A Scattering
Hats off to poet Christoper Reid for his recently-announced win of a Costa prize for best poetry collection of the year. A Scattering is a powerful elegiac book, comparable to the work of Hardy and Douglas Dunn, who also wrote of the remembered loss of their wives. It is good- in a year that has seen a newer generation seemingly seize the reigns in the UK poetry firmament- to see an elder statesman of poetry, whose work came into prominence in the 70s and 80s as a so-called Martian- get a look in.
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Dear Todd
ReplyDeleteChristopher Reid is hardly a poetry outsider. He was poetry editor of Faber & Faber during the 1990's and rejected my own work on several occasions. However I am not one to bear grudges and intend to buy a copy of his book as soon as I can afford it.
Best wishes from Simon
I am also pleased to see Christopher Reid's success. It had started to feel that poetry was going the way of 'celebrity culture' with the bright young things getting most of the notice (especially if they are shiny and good looking!). Poetry is one domain where experience, and years of working at the craft, must count for something. I am so pleased to see that validated with this prize.
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