Ballad of a Happy Immigrant

Leo Boix's poetry has a wide tilt and scope, singing the doors open to a new homeland. His paternal grandfather arrives in the UK from Buenos Aires, acquiring a taste for his new homeland. Ballad of a Happy Immigrant is a dazzling collection of what it means to live, love, and write between two cultures and traditions, exploring otherness and home, and the personal transformation that follows between loss and a life that starts anew.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 80 pages
Publication date: 03 June 2021
Publisher: Vintage Publishing

Leo Boix's poetry is a rare and captivating exploration of our world, showcasing a profound sense of attentiveness and compelling powers of observation. With a wide-ranging and diverse perspective, his poetry sings open the doors to a world of wonder and discovery. It captures the essence of sailors from another century, portrayed with a casual masculinity and a tender heart.

In the mid-20th century, the SS General Pueyrredón from Buenos Aires brings Leo Boix's paternal grandfather to English soil for the first time. During his two-year stay, he immerses himself in his new homeland, embracing the customs and experiences that shape his journey. This transformative experience sets the stage for the poet's own journey, as he arrives in the United Kingdom as a young queer man.

Ballad of a Happy Immigrant is a captivating testament to the life he creates in this new land. It is a dazzling collection of what it means to live, love, and write between two cultures and traditions. With effortless grace, Boix navigates between the English imagination and the Spanish language, embarking on a boundless exploration of otherness and home. This poetic journey delves into the personal transformation that occurs between the loss of one life and the birth of a new one, filled with hope, resilience, and the beauty of embracing one's true self.

Recognized as a Poetry Book Society Wild Card Choice, Leo Boix's poetry is a testament to the power of words to transcend boundaries and ignite the imagination. It invites readers to embark on a journey of self-discovery, exploring the complexities of identity and the universal human experience through the lens of his unique poetic voice.

Weight: 98g
Dimension: 134 x 215 x 11 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781784743512