New Selected Poems: 1983-2008

Description

A welcome new selection of John Fuller's poems, taken from his last eight collections and spanning over two decades of work This rich selection of John Fuller's poems, made by the author himself, is taken from his last eight collections and spans over twenty-five years of work. 'Everything goes back to earth,' writes Fuller, 'But first it must dance / Dance to exhaustion.' His poems, brilliant in their dexterity and virtuoso in their use of form, engage with a spectacular range of subjects, revealing a dark, haunted imagination leavened by moments of exuberant levity. Taken together, they form an elegant, enquiring and accomplished body of work, and one that confirms John Fuller as a significant and influential figure in British poetry.

John Fuller, born in Ashford, Kent, is an acclaimed poet and novelist. His collection Stones and Fires (1996) was awarded the Forward Prize; Ghosts (2004) was shortlisted for the Whitbread Award for Poetry; The Space of Joy (2006) was shortlisted for the Costa Poetry Award, and The Grey Among the Green (1988), Song & Dance (2008) and Pebble & I (2010) were all Poetry Book Society Recommendations. His 1983 novel Flying to Nowhere won the Whitbread First Novel Award and was shortlisted for the Booker Prize. He has also written collections of short stories and several books for children. He is an Emeritus Fellow of Magdalen College, Oxford.

An excellent introduction to one of England's greatest poets - an artist unafraid to combine intellect with sensuousness. After all, sometimes "poetry's the only heaven we have". -- Mark Sanderson * Telegraph * Belong[s] on the shelf of every poetry lover ... Sustained and deeply felt * Independent, Books of the Year 2012 * Terrific -- Hugo Williams * Spectator *