The Perseverance by Raymond Antrobus
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For several years now I have been attending every spring term the ever wonderful Not Just The Booker Prize course at the University of York led by the wisdom of Rob O’Connor. He selects prize winning books (including the Booker Prize winner(s!)) published in the year.
First prize winner in the reading list this year is Raymond Antrobus and the first time a poetry collection has featured. The Perseverance, winner of the Ted Hughes Poetry Award 2018. A moving collection with great emphasis on sounds, on structure and experiences of the author. It also reaches out powerfully to ask searching questions of the reader about identity, belonging, marginalisation an how we define ourselves and others as people. I was provoked, questioned, engaged and stimulated intellectually, emotionally and by the style of the poetry. Superb.
david d stephen 