Mar 07, 2016 we seem to be on a roll with our poetry selections this months choice, 40 sonnets by don paterson generated as lively a discussion as the previous two poets weve looked at. Although the book is, as it says in the title, 40 sonnets, it is not a sonnet sequence dont expect something like samuel daniels delia, let alone sidneys astrophel and stella or. Hack work and slack moments were unerringly pointed out. Even with this history weighing on the project, scottish poet don paterson makes the form fresh and interesting in 40 sonnets. Search for library items search for lists search for contacts search for a library. The new statesman, books of the year uk 40 sonnets by don paterson shows his sheer mastery of the form, by turns scathing, witty and profoundly moving. After reading 40 sonnets patersons fifth and shortest collection to date. This collection from don paterson, his first since the forward prizewinning rain in 2009, is a series of forty luminous sonnets. Sep 01, 2015 now don paterson, in publishing a book of 40 sonnets, is reaching a hand back to that literary tradition. A few days ago, i played a little trick on the internet, asking people to name and date a sonnet, whose first few lines i gave as.
All these poems have the air of being new yorker poems polished, flintily intelligent, highbrow though there is more formal variation here than the books. Here begins, i must quit sleeping in the afternoon, i do it for my heart, but all too soon. Buy the hardcover book 40 sonnets by don paterson at indigo. Don paterson this new collection from don paterson, his first since the forward prizewinning rain in 2009, is a series of forty sonnets.
It is a deceptive title however, very probably deliberately so, as those descriptors are not very applicable to the poems contained within the book. Aug 05, 2016 poet don paterson reads the poem mercies from his poetry collection 40 sonnets faber and faber, shortlisted for the 2016 international griffin poetry prize. The poet tugs and stretches a demanding form to its limit in work. As one might expect from the selfexplanatory and rather straightforward title 40 sonnets, the fundamental concern of don patersons new collection of poetry is that particular form. This new collection from don paterson, his first since the forward prizewinning rain in 2009, is a series of forty sonnets. Don paterson is regarded as one of the most skilled formal poets writing in english today. Some take a traditional form, while others experiment with the readers conception of the sonnet, but they all share the lyrical intelligence and musical gift that has made paterson one of our most celebrated poets. Some take a more traditional form, some are highly experimental, but what these poems share is a lyrical intelligence and musical gift that has been visible in his work since his first book of. Some take a more traditional form, some are highly experimental, but what these poems share is a lyrical intelligence and musical gift that has been visible in his work since his first book of poems, nil nil, in 2009. This new collection from don paterson, his first since the forward prizewinning rain in 2009, is a series of forty sonn. Don paterson is regarded as one of the most skilled formal poets writing in english today, winner of an intimidating array of forward prizes, t. Don paterson a collection of sonnets from one of scotlands most celebrated poets. Poetry book society members get 25% off poetry book orders th.
Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Don patersons 40 sonnets does pretty much what it says on the dustjacket. Originally from dundee, scotland, don paterson left school at 16 and moved to london to pursue music and join a band. Read 40 sonnets by don paterson available from rakuten kobo. This new collection from don paterson, his first since the forward prize. Introduced with tongue firmly in cheek and with a brief, often amusing comment about each sonnet by poet don paterson, this is a very handy introduction. I was given the book, 40 sonnets by don paterson as a birthday gift by a friend. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. This collection, which won the 2015 costa poetry award, is an exhibition of the dundeeborn poets stunningly accomplished adoption of the sonnets ancie. I enjoy the form of the sonnet and this modern collection is exquisite. Don reads from his shortlisted collection 40 sonnets at southbank centres royal festival hall. Don paterson, 40 sonnets faber there were a few minutes on first looking into patersons sonnets that i thought i might be reading the best book of poems id ever read. Poet don paterson reads the poem mercies from his poetry collection 40 sonnets faber and faber, shortlisted for the 2016 international griffin poetry prize. A selftaught poet influenced by coleridge, paul muldoon.
This new book from the dundeeborn poet, critic and editor, twice winner of the ts eliot. I had no idea there were so many modern sonnets and so much variety within the sonnet form. Jan, 2016 don reads from his shortlisted collection 40 sonnets at southbank centres royal festival hall. He found success with the jazzfolk ensemble lammas, but was captivated by poetry upon encountering poet tony harrison. The english and italian translations have been commissioned by specimen to poets katerina anghelakirooke and matteo campagnoli, respectively. In doing so, it joins a noble band of sonnet cycles from petrarchs canzoniere to shakespeares 154, john berrymans. Don paterson, says the irish poet paul muldoon, is simply the most interesting midcareer poet at work in the uk. Now don paterson, in publishing a book of 40 sonnets, is reaching a hand back to that literary tradition. Review by dominic smith from one son of dundee to another, don paterson, allow me to commend this finely wrought collection it pulls off something quietly virtuoso that reads keen, true and. He won an eric gregory award in 1990 and his poem a private bottling won the arvon foundation international poetry competition in 1993. Born in dundee, he left school to pursue a career in music, moving to london in 1984.
Born in dundee in 1963, don paterson left school to pursue a career in music, living in london and brighton. Written by don paterson for months id moved across the open water like a wheel under its skin, a frictionless and by then almost wholly abstract matter. Poetry book society recommendation research output. Paterson writes some formally strict sonnets, but he also isnt afraid to jazz around. Here begins, i must quit sleeping in the afternoon, i do it for my heart, but all too soon my heart has called it off. Sep 16, 2015 don paterson s 40 sonnets does pretty much what it says on the dustjacket. He was included on the list of 20 poets chosen for the poetry societys new generation poets promotion in 1994, and in 1997. Free shipping and pickup in store on eligible orders. Don patersons sonnets show why he deserves every award going, says charlotte runcie. Sep 28, 2015 paterson is at his best when writing about heartbreak.
Aug 15, 2015 although the book is, as it says in the title, 40 sonnets, it is not a sonnet sequence dont expect something like samuel daniels delia, let alone sidneys astrophel and stella or. Some take a more traditional form, some are highly experimental, but what. Reading a collection, poems sometimes seem to signal to one another. A selftaught poet influenced by coleridge, paul muldoon, derek mahon, and michael longley, paterson devoted a year to reading before he began to write and. We would like to thank don patersonwho was among our guests at babel festival last yearfor granting us permission to publish this selection from his latest book of poems, 40 sonnets. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading 40 sonnets. Besides working with the form in each of his own collections to date, he has also edited and introduced the anthology 101 sonnets and produced the wonderfully insightful commentary reading shakespeares sonnets. Oct 27, 2015 in don patersons 40 sonnets, his first book since rain, which won the 2009 forward prize, there is a recurring sense of a shoreline. Don patersons book of commentaries on shakespeares sonnets was emphatically a poets response, rather than an academics. Paterson is at his best when writing about heartbreak. Wave makes this explicit and is a perfect subject for a.
This collection, which won the 2015 costa poetry award, is an exhibition of the dundeeborn poets stunningly accomplished adoption of the sonnet s ancient structure this collection from don paterson. He is professor of poetry at the university of st andrews, and since 1996 has been poetry editor at picador macmillan. He is the author of nil nil 1993, winner of the forward prize for best first collection. Some take a more traditional form, some are highly experimental, but what these poems share is a. We seem to be on a roll with our poetry selections this months choice, 40 sonnets by don paterson generated as lively a discussion as the previous two poets weve looked at. This is patersons latest collection for which he won the costa prize for poetry. In don patersons 40 sonnets, his first book since rain, which won the 2009 forward prize, there is a recurring sense of a shoreline. His first book nil nil was published to acclaim in 1993, and in the same year he returned to scotland as writer in residence at the university of dundee.
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