Gallop: Selected Poems

This new selection, taken from 40 years of poems, is haunted by horses, history, hares, unseasonable love and unreasonable hope.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 216 pages
Publication date: 28 February 2019
Publisher: Carcanet Press Ltd

Alison Brackenbury's poetic creations are imbued with a haunting presence of horses, unseasonable love, history, hares, and an unwavering hope. Her Selected Poems takes us on a journey that begins in the almost Victorian villages of remote Lincolnshire, where her father, as a ploughboy, toiled behind majestic Shires and Percherons. In her acclaimed early poem, Dreams of Power, Brackenbury gives voice to a lesser-known woman from the past, Arbella Stuart, and her remarkably contemporary choices: the sanctuary of safe solitude, the allure of fashionable London, and the perilous embrace of dangerous love. Her poems, reminiscent of songs, draw upon her years of experience in bookkeeping and manual work within the industrial realm, encompassing the complexities of VAT, the pungent aroma of trichloroethylene on a bustling lorry, and the vivid imagery of northern China winters and the humid heat of Hanoi. Yet, throughout this diverse tapestry of landscapes, the countryside consistently returns, its mud, its enormous hares, and its resolute sun.

After nine remarkable books, numerous prestigious prizes, and national broadcasts, the rush of Brackenbury's poems stands as a testament to remarkable progress, brimming with delightful surprises and rejuvenating renewals. Each line and verse reveals a deeper understanding of the human condition, offering a profound exploration of love, loss, resilience, and the enduring power of nature. Alison Brackenbury's poetry continues to captivate readers with its timeless allure, inviting us to embark on a journey of introspection and discovery.

Weight: 278g
Dimension: 135 x 215 x 21 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781784106959