John Kinsella Books

Exploring the interplay between writing and visual art, this collection features John Kinsella's innovative 'drawing-poems' that merge journal entries with poetic expression. The work reflects on orthography, handwriting, and perception while presenting a dialogue between the natural environment and social justice issues. Influenced by kaleidoscopes and William Blake, the poems and drawings intertwine, challenging traditional representation and dimensionality. This unique blend serves as both artistic intervention and commentary, inviting readers into a vibrant, interconnected experience.

After completing four collections of dialogue in poems, Kwame Dawes in Nebraska (via Ghana and Jamaica) and John Kinsella in Western Australia, have produced a monumental fifth volume in four unHistory. unHistory is an essential record of our times by two world-leading poets, acutely sensitive to the bracing global turmoil of the last five years. It is an exploration of history’s undertones, its personal, familial, and institutional resonances and of the relationship between public events and the literary imagination. It is at the same time an elegant enactment of friendship and memory. As in previous volumes, the marvel is poetry that has all the fluidity of spontaneous response, and the shapeliness and finesse of the most deeply considered work written by two prolific and influential writers at the height of their powers as poets.

Monument is a collaborative collection between John Kinsella and Louis Armand, which follows on from their earlier Synopticon project (though differs from it in that, rather than being an 'overwriting,' this was produced in a reverse 'erasure' process). Featuring 100 pseudo sonnets & variations, it began in Gordon Square, London as a response to the colonial institutional politics of the British Museum.

The Weave is the second book collaboration between Thurston Moore and John Kinsella – dubbed a ‘work in progress’ by the two poets, the book guides readers through a world in decay, crafting an invigorating language of spontaneity and survival out of the destruction. Moore and Kinsella aren’t just observing – they implicate us all in the harms of global capitalism and environmental disaster, charting a back and forth between the individual and the crowd.

Exploring the theme of mortality, this sixth collection features a profound exchange between two major poets from different parts of the world. Inspired by personal crises and environmental challenges such as rising temperatures and forest fires in Western Australia, the poems delve into the reality of death while celebrating the arts associated with it. The exquisite dialogue between the poets enriches the exploration of these weighty themes, offering readers a reflective and poignant experience.

The book presents a unique blend of fiction and critical ecological politics, crafted by two scholar-poets from distinct regions: John Kinsella from Western Australia's Wheatlands and Russell West-Pavlov from Württemberg, Germany. Their collaboration explores the intersections of environment, culture, and politics, offering insights into ecological issues through a creative lens. This innovative approach aims to engage readers in critical reflection on contemporary ecological challenges.

This literary critical work serves as a toolkit for promoting peaceful activism focused on environmental issues and human rights. It offers insights and strategies for individuals seeking to engage in concerted efforts to advocate for justice and sustainability, blending critical analysis with practical guidance for effective activism.

Exploring the intersection of poetry and activism, this work by John Kinsella delves into themes of legibility and protest against tyranny. It emphasizes peaceful yet persistent participation in human rights advocacy and environmentalism. The author reflects on the role of poetry as a tool for intervention during social crises, highlighting the importance of community and the rights of all beings. This book serves as a compelling poetics against fascism, advocating for the well-being of the biosphere through thoughtful engagement and action.

Exploring themes of human rights, justice, and creativity, this expanded edition of a long-standing poetry cycle integrates elements of handwriting and textuality. Spanning over twenty-five years, it includes all poems from the original three-volume set, uncollected works, and a holograph Runes notebook. The collection is enriched with a new foreword by the author, an introduction by Nicholas Birns, and an interview with Jonathan Dunk, all edited into a cohesive volume by Gareth Jenkins, offering a profound reflection on activism and knowledge.

The narrative follows Harold Lime, a once-celebrated poet now living in isolation in a Cambridge basement. Stripped of his former glory and grappling with age, he finds his solitude disrupted by a fox hunt saboteur, leading to a complex relationship that serves as both a connection and a confession. As he immerses himself in Mahler's music, each symphony evokes memories of his Australian youth and ignites reflections on the intertwining of body and soul, exploring themes of commitment, connectedness, and the struggle between rootedness and unrootedness in a flawed world.