Survivor

Some months ago, the ten books in the Wales Book of the Year 2007 longlist were announced:

The Long List for Academi's Book of the Year was announced on World Book Day, 2nd March 2007. The list consists 20 (10 in Welsh and 10 in English) authors from Wales 'marking themselves out as world writers'.

Among the chosen ones a poetry book can be found: Growth Rings by Christine Evans (Seren Books)

SHORTLISTED FOR WALES BOOK OF THE YEAR PRIZE 2007

This new collection from Christine Evans follows last years well-received ’Selected Poems’. Hers is a sensitive and persuasive voice, highly attuned to the vagries of the seasons, to the landscapes and inhabitants of the beautiful Llyn Peninsula in North Wales where the author has made her home.

As well as vibrant short lyrics on everything from ’Bluebells in Nanhoron’ to jets flying over Wales, there are a series of tender, elegiac pieces on relatives, meditations on the last moments of Shelley and the fates of the Brontes, and a number of poems featuring the mysterious Island of Bardsey.

Born in Yorkshire, Christine Evans moved to Wales in 1967. She divides her time between farms on the Llyn Peninsula and Bardsey Island.

This Brontë connection it's explained in this review:

This new collection by Christine Evans is simply magnificent. Many of the poems are inspired by the natural landscape, set against blistering images of the damage man can do to our world. (...) Several of the poems are inspired by real people, including one I found particularly startling, ‘Survivor’, telling the story of the Bronte family, a fierce portrait that ends ‘where rooks called mockery/to the father, nine-times-bereft/Bronte, survivor.’ (Janet Thomas)

The winners of each each language category will be announced on 9 July 2007 when each will receive a prize of £10,000.

Categories: Books, Poetry