Flambard is a small independent press that nourishes developing talent, particularly new and neglected writers. Poetry forms the backbone of the list, but Flambard now publishes some fiction as well.
One hundred and counting...
Flambard reaches its first century of publications with Peter Bennet's new collection of poetry, The Glass Swarm, which is the Poetry Book Society's Choice for its Autumn 08 quarter. We warmly congratulate Peter on this honour, the first time a Flambard book has received such an accolade from the PBS. The book is published on 18 September and Peter will be giving readings from it in the autumn.
Fear of Thunder shortlisted for Forward Prize
August 1st 2008: Andrew Forster's collection Fear of Thunder has been shortlisted for the Forward Prize best first collection, worth £5000 to the winner.
Michael Standen, 1937-2008
The poet novelist and short story writer Michael Standen died on 1 June, 2008, aged 70. Mick's first collection, Time's Fly-Past, was our first book, in 1991. Five fine novels, published by Heinemann and OUP, had preceded this. Later, in 1994, we published his collection of short stories, Months. As teacher, writer, encourager and scourge of pompous bureaucracies, Mick will be remembered with love and affection by many, many people; from sea to sea, and well beyond.
We have set up a page with a longer tribute to Mick, from Flambard and many others.
The Glass Swarm
Peter Bennet’s new collection unites skilful random rhyme and lightly handled traditional forms with characteristic imaginative power and dark humour. The poems combine an unusually broad range of reference with surprising intimacy, not least in the intricate sequence ‘Folly Wood’, which takes as a starting point the Twelve Gates of the English alchemist George Ripley.
Named the Poetry Book Society Choice for Autumn 2008, The Glass Swarm confirms Bennet’s growing reputation as one of the best and most engaging poets writing today.
Night Journey
In this new collection, Josephine Dickinson’s poems move out towards the cosmos and inwards on a journey of transformation leading to epiphany – the ‘night journey’ of the title. Psyche visits Paradise by night; a modern Creusa tries on but refuses the deadly burning dress; a crew of archetypal characters travel on board a ship by torchlight; and planetary transits, eclipses of the moon and space exploration all acquire a particularity of feeling. The long central sequence of ‘Elegies’ follows the journey of a grief. But the tone of this collection is ultimately ecstatic, its dominating influence one of light. The poet questions the equation of ‘night’ with ‘darkness’. Instead ‘night’ assumes the nature of a lover, host to dreams and to the ‘hyalite’ of what is beyond the ordinary senses.
Dancing for the Hangman
In Dancing for the Hangman, Martin Edwards reopens the file on one of the
most notorious and fascinating cases in criminal history. Edwards blends imaginative insight with detailed and extensive research to bring to life the characters and events of a hundred years ago. As he explores all the known facts of the murder case, Edwards skilfully reveals the many questions surrounding Crippen’s conviction and arrives at a fresh interpretation of the case.
Darkly humorous and highly readable, Dancing for the Hangman is also a strikingly vivid portrait of Crippen himself, drawing the reader deep into the mind of this hapless, baffling and complex figure.
Arnold Wesker, the poet
“Arnold's Wesker's reputation has survived the vicissitudes of fashion, and it is now easier to see the lasting strengths and variety of his work.”
— Margaret Drabble
Arnold Wesker, who was knighted in the 2006 New Year’s Honours list for services to drama, is a major British playwright. Born in London in 1932, he achieved early critical success with the three plays known as The Wesker Trilogy (1958–60). Since then he has written about forty more plays, as well as opera librettos and scripts for film, TV and radio. Although he has written poetry for many years, All Things Tire of Themselves is his first collection, published in April.
Arnold Wesker will be at Colpitts Poetry, as part of the Durham Book Festival: 7:30pm in the Studio of the Gala Theatre. Tickets £6/£4 conc (available from the Gala box office on 0191 332 4041 or online at www.galadurham.co.uk - £2 booking fee)
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