Rebecca Tamas Libri

LONGLISTED FOR THE 2021 RATHBONES FOLIO PRIZE. In Strangers, Rebecca Tamas explores where the human and nonhuman meet, and why this delicate connection just might be the most important relationship of our times.

Exploring themes of mysticism, gender, and historical injustices, this debut collection of poetry weaves together elements like witch trials and the suffragette movement. Tamas crafts visceral and darkly witty verses that function as spells, challenging suppression and silence. The poems evoke a powerful connection to blood and earth, leaving a lingering impact that resonates deeply with the reader.

Exploring the interplay between self and place, the poems delve into magical and strange landscapes, from the Arctic to the Scottish islands and English wilderness. The long title poem intricately weaves Shakespeare's Ophelia into a narrative that seeks to reclaim a silenced female voice, merging fractured lyricism with themes of illumination and discovery. The work presents an expansive and complex language that captures the essence of journeying and transformation.