Tideway

A re-issue of Jane Draycott's Tideway, a collection of poems about London's working river in a time of transition, with paintings by Peter Hay created for the first edition. The book combines Draycott's poems with Hay's paintings and the transcribed words of the watermen themselves, capturing the essence of the river and its community.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 64 pages
Publication date: 21 June 2022
Publisher: Two Rivers Press

A long-awaited re-issue of Jane Draycott's mesmerizing Tideway, a captivating collection of poems that explores the working river of London during a transformative era. This edition has been beautifully redesigned, featuring captivating paintings by Peter Hay, specially commissioned for the first edition, serving as companion pieces to the poetic verses. The River Thames, a treacherous domain, presents a myriad of challenges for those who work on its waters: powerful tides, strong winds, intricate bridges, and chillingly cold water. At the turn of the millennium, Jane Draycott embarked on an immersive journey alongside the skilled London watermen, immersing herself in their world of tugs, barges, and salvage vessels. These individuals, comprising a community of highly skilled men and women, witnessed the gradual transformation of their working landscape and the uncertain future that loomed over them. Docklands underwent a remarkable metamorphosis, slipways were constructed, warehouses were repurposed into luxurious apartments. Tideway brings together Draycott's poignant poems penned during this period, alongside Hay's luminous paintings, and the transcribed words of the watermen themselves, creating a harmonious blend of art and words. What Draycott achieves in just two sentences is nothing short of remarkable. Her concise audacity in imagery creation is persuasive, her confidence in securing the registers ensures a fine and clear lyric, and her ability to make significance out of insignificance is awe-inspiring. When spoken aloud, these words demand to be sung in time, resonating with a rhythm that echoes the essence of the narrative. Time serves as the central theme of Tideway, weaving its threads through the verses and painting a vivid portrait of the city's evolution and the resilience of its inhabitants. David Morley, in his review, aptly describes the profound impact of Draycott's work, stating that it "contains a world. It isn't just the concise audacity of the imagery created here that is persuasive... [her] confidence secures the registers and makes a fine, clear lyric. Moreover, she makes significance out of insignificance. Say it out loud; you'll want to sing it in time."

Dimension: 210 x 135 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781915048011
Edition number: 2 New edition