Questa poetessa e romanziera esplora l'intersezione tra paesaggi nordici, cyberspazio e la condizione umana. Il suo lavoro accessibile ma profondo approfondisce temi come il linguaggio, la storia e l'esperienza personale, servendo spesso a commemorare persone e luoghi. Mira a intrattenere e coinvolgere i lettori, criticando al contempo la censura e la pomposità. La sua scrittura è celebrata per la sua capacità di connettere mondi disparati e offrire commenti acuti sulla vita contemporanea.
Afternoons Go Nowhere is poet Sheenagh Pugh's tenth collection. An acute understanding of the human condition enlivens these poems: the foibles of historical kings, queens and commoners are exposed to her sharply scrutinising eye. There is a notable sequence of poems about Canadian provinces as well as work inspired by her home in Shetland.
Renowned for her use of traditional meter, clarity of style, and originality of subject matter, this is the most complete collection of Pugh’s poems to date. Including works from the past 25 years and organized chronologically, this volume features poems that are reflective, subtly persuasive, and in which themes are often subverted, truisms reversed, and clichés overthrown—revealing a skilled yet unobtrusive poetic voice at the height of her career.
Celebration is a central theme in this collection, with a poignant series titled 'Arctic Chart' honoring individuals and a ship that have shaped Arctic geography. Notable pieces include 'Envying Owen Beattie,' inspired by the discovery of a frozen explorer. The collection features persona poems reflecting a middle-aged woman's love for a younger man, alongside explorations of Shetland, Cardiff, and the complexities of mortality. Pugh also includes translations from French and German, emphasizing her accessible style and the depth of her insights.
Exploring the theme of traveling in depth, this new collection of poems has a pervasive, elegiac quality, which demonstrates the many different types of journeys—both real and imagined—that one must face in life. These incisive narratives work more by implication than explication with shorter lines; brief poignant descriptions; and minimalist dialogue.
Set in a unique, ambiguous setting reminiscent of both medieval and modern times, the narrative explores the dynamics of a rural community grappling with love, conflict, and societal norms. A central custom restricts a woman's speech until her first child is born, highlighting themes of tradition versus modernity. Through diverse perspectives, the author delves into the complexities of human relationships and societal expectations, prompting readers to reflect on the consequences of abandoning tradition and the resulting feelings of dislocation.
The collection features a diverse range of characters, from historical figures like George Mackay Brown and Johnny Cash to a wartime lion-keeper and sailors in a Shetland churchyard. A significant poem reflects on the poignant life and death of a young soldier who died from hypothermia during the Napoleonic Wars, offering a deep elegiac meditation. Additionally, "Googlisms" presents an amusing exploration of quirky definitions sourced from Google, adding an unexpected twist to the collection's themes.
Exploring the interplay between fiction and reality, the collection delves into themes of truth and storytelling. In "Fanfic," the author navigates cyberspace where fans reshape cult television narratives. "Lady Franklin's Man" portrays the poignant quest for Arctic explorer Sir John Franklin, highlighting his widow's strength and love amid mid-Victorian landscapes. Additional poems offer a critical look at societal issues, including a tribute to "vampires of mercy" and the award-winning "Toast," which celebrates the vibrancy of youth during summer.
Here is the best of Sheenagh PughOCOs early a generous and wide-ranging selection from her first four collections, together with two dozen previously unpublished pieces Notable inclusions are the prize-winning 'M.S.A' and 'Intercity Lullaby', and the much-anthologised 'Sometimes.' Throughout, a lively and enquiring mind is brought to bear on how we live and die, and how we might live more equitably. Sheenagh Pugh approaches her subject unpredictably, through Norse saga and snooker, apartheid and falling tortoises, in a poetry of invention and conviction At the heart of the book is the Earth Studies sequence, a history of the world in 19 poemsOCO, and the first major environmental poem of the green era. Set in the indeterminate future, it explores the rise of human civilisation, and abuse of the Earth, following them to their logical the death of the planet. Ironic, lyrical, penetrating, these poems typify the craft and passion of Sheenagh PughOCOs writing. Selected Poems ends with a section of PughOCOs much-admired translations, of German poets such as Simon Dach, Andreas Gryphius and Christian Hofmann von Hofmannswaldau."
The collection showcases Sheenagh Pugh's mastery of modern British verse through her subtle technique and sharp wit. It features a range of characters, from a Welsh pirate to a mediaeval woodcarver, and draws inspiration from the stunning Shetland Isles, with poems like "Voices in Mousa Broch" and "Sailing to Islands." Additionally, the collection includes notable translations from German poets such as Andreas Gryphius. Pugh's accessible style illuminates profound themes, making her work both engaging and significant.
In this, her 12th collection, noted poet Sheenagh Pugh steps into a new, northern landscape, the Shetland Islands, and her poems are steeped in the wilder weathers and views of rugged coastlines, sweeping sea-vistas and the hardy historical characters who have inhabited these lands