The Thing in the Gap-stone Stile (Oxford Poets) Book

Alice Oswald's first book of poems, The Thing in the Gap-stone Stile, recently awarded the Poetry Book Society's Choice award, is more confident and achieved than many first collections. Previously published in Anvil New Poets 2, a selection chosen by Carol Ann Duffy, and winner of the 1994 Eric Gregory Award, Oswald already clearly demonstrates a distinct voice. The poems here are extraordinarily beautiful, intensely musical, strewn with emotion, and full of energy and warmth. Influenced by Gerard Manley Hopkins and George Herbert, they speak passionately of nature and love. They have a religious sense of mystery and try to express the intangible in marvelously vivid language. The second part of the book features an entertaining long poem titled The Men of Gotham, a comical folk-legend about the three men who went to sea to try to catch the moon in a net. Taken together, this is a wonderful first collection by an exceptionally talented young poet.Read More