Virgula

Virgula is an award-winning collection by Dutch poet Sasja Janssen, exploring the spaces in-between, using the comma as a muse and companion. It strikes a balance between mystery and intent, revealing painful stories and leaving traces and scars.

Format: Paperback / softback
Publication date: 13 February 2024
Publisher: Prototype Publishing Ltd.

Virgula, an acclaimed collection by the esteemed Dutch poet Sasja Janssen, stands as her second English publication. The title of the collection, derived from the Latin word for comma, aptly captures the essence of the poems, which delve into the hidden narratives found within the spaces between words. Janssen's poetry elevates the comma beyond its mere punctuation function, treating it as a muse and companion. She consistently invokes her in every poem, drawing upon her as a goddess, friend, or lover, offering solace in times of emptiness. Within Janssen's poetic realm, painful stories often unfold, events that never materialized but leave indelible traces and scars. Through constant shifts and contrasts in perspective, Virgula strikes a delicate balance between mystery and unwavering intent. The comma serves as a catalyst, halting the stillness and enabling thoughts and language to progress.

Virgula has garnered significant recognition, earning the Awater Poetry Prize, being nominated for the Ida Gerhardt Poetry Prize and the Herman de Coninck Prize, and receiving the prestigious De Grote Poëzieprijs (Grand Poetry Prize) for the best poetry collection of the year. This testament to Janssen's artistry and craftsmanship showcases her ability to captivate readers with her profound and evocative poetry.

Weight: 110g
Dimension: 226 x 148 x 11 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781913513504