In The Crossing Fee Iain Bamforth re-stages the odyssey of the legendary German hero who falls into a lake in the Black Forest and emerges in the China Sea. Circulating between Europe, the Philippines and Indonesia (where Bamforth worked for five years as a health consultant), the poems sound the 'plummet and allure' of life on both worlds. Grounded in myth and also in close observation, The Crossing Fee records a momentous exploration of space and history: 'For the tides are always bringing / news of something strange.'

About the Author
Iain Bamforth is a former hospital doctor, a general practitioner, a translator, a lecturer in comparative literature, and a public health consultant. He is the author of The Good European.

Reviews
'[Bamforth's] work is rich in perceptual acquaintance,making it not only intelligent but also extremely sensual. To read him makes the patterns of our minds richer...' --David Morley, Guardian 'This collection is a joy to read, full of so much nuance, and persuasive language, a permanent wistfulness that never strays into the twee and the constant sense of travel, of movement and growth.' --Matt Macdonald, Scottish Review of Books



Book Information
ISBN 9781847771438
Author Iain Bamforth
Format Paperback
Imprint Carcanet Press Ltd
Publisher Carcanet Press Ltd