Exploring the rich history of cinema in Leeds, this collection of poetry reflects on the seventy cinemas that thrived before World War II. Poets James Nash and Matthew Hedley Stoppard delve into the nostalgia of these abandoned picturehouses, capturing the essence of cinema-going through their verses. Their work not only pays homage to the lost venues but also examines the broader cultural significance of film and its impact on community life.
In 2009, having attended a workshop on sonnet-writing, Leeds-based poet James Nash took home a half-finished poem and worked it up into a well-received romantic gift. Intrigued and inspired by the framework offered by the Shakespearean sonnet, he wrote another, and another... By Christmas 2011, James had spent the intervening period writing almost nothing else - and had produced more than one hundred and sixty sonnets in total.'Some Things Matter' is the end result of this process: the finest sixty-three examples edited and ordered by the poet, and collected in print for the first time by Valley Press. By turns philosophical, satirical, warm and bittersweet, the finished sequence spans the full gamut of the human experience - seasons change, friends (and pets) are lost and found, and everything grows older (sometimes gracefully). Any reader will find much to identify with and enjoy within these 882 lines; a landmark achievement in the career of a great Yorkshire writer.--- Don't miss the best of James' non-sonnet poetry, 'A Bit of an Ice Breaker: Selected and Uncollected Poems', available now exclusively on Kindle. ---
New sonnets celebrating seventy years of life, from a modern master of the fourteen-line form.
Exploring the transformative power of the Gospel, this book delves into how our approach can either rejuvenate our faith or lead to disinterest. It emphasizes the importance of engaging with the challenges presented by Jesus, urging readers to uncover deeper meanings and recover their spiritual vitality. By examining the dynamics of familiarity and engagement, it invites a fresh perspective on faith that can lead to profound personal change.
Quixote in a Cart is the story of James Nash's extraordinary life, his love for all things Arab, and his inspiring journey on horseback to Jerusalem to raise funds for the Order of St. John. The intriguing and detailed narrative is packed with observations and historical facts alongside the basic story.
In his third volume of sonnets, James Nash examines urban and seaside environments in a Yorkshire he has known through fifty years living in the North. His sonnets soar over the land – from Leeds, a predominantly Victorian city, to the Wolds in the East Riding of Yorkshire, walking and cycling into the natural world with a pen and paper never far from his hand. James openly shows his debts to the great poets and writers of previous generations, from Winifred Holtby to Philip Larkin, from Matthew Arnold to Dylan Thomas – and with this sparkling new collection, lays a fresh claim to be named among them. To borrow some of his own words, James' gift is to be a 'clear microscope' for our times, finding hope in the many 'miracles of detail' that pass through his unwavering gaze; into verses that glow with warmth, insight and poignancy. He thinks his old English master would be quite proud.