''As Far as I Know'' is a wonderful new book of poems
by Roger McGough, the nation's favourite poet. Take
comfort from this. You have a book in your hand not a
loaded gun or a parking fine or an invitation card to
the wedding of the one you should have married. Roger
McGough's new book of poems shows him writing as
fluently and inventively as ever. There may be a
stronger strain of melancholy than before (the death of
a regular in the local pub; the news that a daughter
might be moving abroad), as well as a distinct sense of
menace, small but insistent, which inhabits many of the
poems. But there is plenty of McGough's characteristic
wit and wordplay too, including a scintillating series
of haiku inspired by a London tube strike and a striking
reworking of his famous 1960s poem ''Let Me Die a
Youngman's Death'', this time entitled ''Not For Me a
Youngman's Death''. Who but McGough would characterize
the butcher's window as 'the friendly face of the
abattoir', or imagine the almost limitless ways in which
we might go to bed? A new book of poems by Roger McGough
is always an event. Published just ahead of his 75th
birthday, ''As Far As I Know'' is truly cause for
celebration.''The patron saint of poetry''. (Carol Ann
Duffy). Roger McGough was born in Liverpool. During the
1960s he was a member of the group Scaffold which had an
international hit with 'Lily the Pink'. He has won two
BAFTAs and a Royal Television Award for his broadcasting
work, and presents the popular Radio 4 programme
''Poetry Please''. He has published many books of poems
for adults and children, and both his ''Collected
Poems'' (2003) and ''Selected Poems'' (2006) are
bestselling poetry titles on the Penguin list. He was
made a Freeman of the City of Liverpool in 2001, and
received a CBE in 2004 for his services to
literature. |
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