Pilgrim Bell (SHORTLISTED, FORWARD PRIZE FOR BEST COLLECTION)

Pilgrim Bell is the anticipated second collection of poems from Forward Prize nominated Kaveh Akbar, a widely published contemporary voice in poetry. Akbar’s craft is measured and precise, but his confidence shows most in the intellectual space left around the form of aphorisms: ‘Whatever you aren’t, which is what makes you’. Much is being mused in this work which speaks to lived experiences of the poet’s immigrant identity, born in Iran, raised as a Muslim in an intolerant America, and his personal pursuit of sobriety. Each aspect alone could provide sufficient depth to delve into, but are instead wrapped together in a quest for religious reverie. 

Hamnet

Maggie O’Farrell(Tinder Press, 2021); pbk: £8.99 As an avid William Shakespeare fan, I thought I knew most everything about his life. I have studied him inside and out for years. I have heard the earworms of his work in the background of my mind for hours on end. Yet, Maggie O’Farrell’s Hamnet completely changed what Read More

Bolt from the Blue

In the era of the instant communication that comes with the ever-advancing technology it is easy to forget the art of letter writing where relationships were built, and destroyed, on well-travelled paper. With texting, emails, or messaging through social media, exchange is almost instantaneous. The miles between the conversation matter little in this form. Letters, however, are a somewhat forgotten mode of communication that involves more thought-out conversations, triggering also a certain amount of suspense between delivering and receiving. Jeremy Cooper’s Bolt from the Blue revives the letter as dialogue  in capturing the complicated relationship between a mother and daughter.

Dark Neighbourhood

Dark Neighbourhood is a collection bound by dread. ‘Dark’ is an appropriate word, as these stories enter the dark recesses of the minds of troubled characters as well as dark places.

Knitted Glass

From These Windows: Online Collection – a selection of writing and art inspired by the collections of the V&A Museums.  She would usually phone me on her break and tell me to wait outside her boyfriend’s flat after five o’clock. We’ll get food, she would say, and watch movies. We were best friends. One time, Read More

Conditions At Home

From These Windows: Online Collection – a selection of writing and art inspired by the collections of the V&A Museums.  Legend goes Ma only knew Pa was drinking at work when one day he came home sober. Hypocrite. She could put it back too. Red wine and coke. That’s one thing I don’t like to Read More

Already

From These Windows: Online Collection – a selection of writing and art inspired by the collections of the V&A Museums.  they are there gilded and graceful still               stamped in the milky gap between jeans and a nice top when she leans over the bar to smile and flirt with Read More

From Kinsessing

From These Windows: Online Collection – a selection of writing and art inspired by the collections of the V&A Museums.  Kingsessing, USA 23 April 1803 Dearest mother, The birds here are exquisite. I know you want to hear that I have met a good woman and that I’ve changed my ways and have a steady Read More

The Blue Hole

From These Windows: Online Collection – a selection of writing and art inspired by the collections of the V&A Museums.  We moved tae Usan when the factory shut and Faither got a joab on the boats. He’d be up at the crack o dawn and awa oot come hell or high tide. When the sea Read More

More Than A Muse

From These Windows: Online Collection – a selection of writing and art inspired by the collections of the V&A Museums.  She watched the performance spellbound. Defiantly eyeing the audience, he spoke at length of industrial chimneys; tall, intimidating, bellowing smoke. She met him later wearing a satin dress: round and smooth; purple and shiny as Read More