A Method, A Path

A Method,A Path is a debut poetry collection by award-winning poet Simon Evans that explodes the notion of translation and explores the turbulent transmission of historical and mythic voices. It is a lived and open-ended negotiation invested in the potential for magic utterance and ritual action in spite of language's violence. The book moves from the flooded and wooded terrains of Somerset and East Anglia to the burnt hills of Andalusía in the company of Federico Garca Lorca, and the poems always inhabit a place between Evans' own words and external voices.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 80 pages
Publication date: 08 June 2023
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC

A Method,A Path, a debut collection of poetry by an award-winning poet, challenges the concept of translation by presenting it as a dynamic and malleable form. With a formal inventiveness that draws from a wide range of sources and an unflinching willingness to experiment with visual and textual elements, the collection exhilarates readers. The poems delve into the complex process of transmitting historical and mythic voices, navigating the challenges posed by nationalist ideologies that seek to isolate them. Translation becomes a lived and ongoing negotiation, fueled by the potential for magical utterances and ritual actions, even in the face of linguistic violence.

Each poem in the collection revolves around a distinct instance of dialogue or communication with others, encompassing voices and languages from different eras and places. The author's interdisciplinary collaboration with other artists and performers is evident throughout the book, as he seamlessly blends his words with external voices through translation, haunting, and invocation. The physical and textual landscapes of the book span from the flooded terrains of Somerset and East Anglia to the burnt hills of Andalusia, accompanied by the words of Federico García Lorca. The poems occupy a space between the author's own words and external influences, creating a fluid and malleable surface that reflects the truant strangeness of the more-than-human world.

This collection is praised for its "tirelessly inventive, substantial collection of vivid lyrical work," with reviewers noting its ability to warp and transform the poet's voice. The poems evoke a sense of wonder and awe, inviting readers to explore the boundaries between human and non-human experiences. A Method,A Path showcases the poet's talent for capturing the essence of the natural world and the complexities of human relationships, making it a noteworthy debut that deserves recognition.

Weight: 94g
Dimension: 131 x 199 x 9 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781526651228