Description
From the natural world to war and politics, from memories of childhood to bittersweet snapshots of everyday life, from wry asides to fantastical flights of narrative fantasy - Kona Macphee applies her versatile and polished technique to a characteristic diversity of themes in her second book of poems. Her eclecticism is never more apparent than in the Book of Diseases sequence, which launches from its simple premise into a delirious medley of forms and subjects. The meticulously crafted lyrical poems of Perfect Blue reflect the growing power of a distinctively original, musical and compassionate voice that laments the transience and fragility of life while celebrating the joy of truly living it. Winner of the Geoffrey Faber Memorial Prize.
About the Author
Kona Macphee was born in London and grew up in Australia, where she worked as a waitress, shop assistant and apprentice motorbike mechanic. She studied musical composition at the Sydney Conservatorium, violin at the University of Sydney, and computer science and robotics at Monash University, later taking an M.Sc. at Cambridge as a Commonwealth Scholar. She received an Eric Gregory Award for her poetry in 1998, and has published three collections with Bloodaxe, Tails (2004); Perfect Blue (2010), winner of the Geoffrey Faber Memorial Prize in 2011; and What Long Miles (2013). She is a freelance writer and software developer, and lives in Crieff, Perthshire.
Reviews
'Kona Macphee's poetry has a genuine lyricism and mystery, together with a bold experimental diction' - John Greening, Poetry Review. 'Kona Macphee's finest work presents a perspective whose detachment is rooted in genuine care for what it sees, as though the refusal to centre the poems in personal subjectivity will provide the most intimate connection to the world. Add to this meticulous attention a lyricism based on compressed syntax and skilful consonance - an impressive range' - Carrie Etter, Poetry Review. 'Poems of elegant gravitas, terse yet lyrical' - Independent on Sunday.
Awards
Winner of Geoffrey Faber Memorial Prize 2011 (UK).
Book Information
ISBN 9781852248666
Author Kona Macphee
Format Paperback
Page Count 64
Imprint Bloodaxe Books Ltd
Publisher Bloodaxe Books Ltd
About the Author
Kona Macphee was born in London and grew up in Australia, where she worked as a waitress, shop assistant and apprentice motorbike mechanic. She studied musical composition at the Sydney Conservatorium, violin at the University of Sydney, and computer science and robotics at Monash University, later taking an M.Sc. at Cambridge as a Commonwealth Scholar. She received an Eric Gregory Award for her poetry in 1998, and has published three collections with Bloodaxe, Tails (2004); Perfect Blue (2010), winner of the Geoffrey Faber Memorial Prize in 2011; and What Long Miles (2013). She is a freelance writer and software developer, and lives in Crieff, Perthshire.
Reviews
'Kona Macphee's poetry has a genuine lyricism and mystery, together with a bold experimental diction' - John Greening, Poetry Review. 'Kona Macphee's finest work presents a perspective whose detachment is rooted in genuine care for what it sees, as though the refusal to centre the poems in personal subjectivity will provide the most intimate connection to the world. Add to this meticulous attention a lyricism based on compressed syntax and skilful consonance - an impressive range' - Carrie Etter, Poetry Review. 'Poems of elegant gravitas, terse yet lyrical' - Independent on Sunday.
Awards
Winner of Geoffrey Faber Memorial Prize 2011 (UK).
Book Information
ISBN 9781852248666
Author Kona Macphee
Format Paperback
Page Count 64
Imprint Bloodaxe Books Ltd
Publisher Bloodaxe Books Ltd
