This selection of Brendan Kennelly's critical writing is as illuminating in what it says about his own ideas and methods as it is about the writers whose work he discusses. The book contains his essays on the major Irish writers of the 20th century.
A collection of poems that are inspired by an autumn sojourn in America where the author would sit by the edge of a reservoir, trying to cope with loneliness by contemplating black swans, blue waves, seagulls, trees and rocks.
New book of satirical poetry from Ireland's most popular poet featuring Guff, Devil's advocate and self critic, everyman and every writer consumed by self- doubt and self-questioning.
The Book of Judas, Brendan Kennelly’s 400-page epic poem in twelve parts, was the number one bestselling book in Ireland. The Little Book of Judas is a distillation of that literary monster, purged to its traitorous essence. But Judas never goes away. He continued to worm his way into Kennelly’s imagination long after the original book was “finished”, and The Little Book of Judas includes some damning new revelations from the eternal scapegoat and outcast. Not merely lost but irredeemable, Kennelly’s bitterly articulate Judas speaks, dreams and murmurs – of past and present, history and myth, good and evil, of men, women and children, and of course money – until we realise that the unspeakable perpetrator of the apparently unthinkable, in penetrating the icy reaches of his own world, becomes a sly, many-voiced critic of ours.
Exploring the multifaceted nature of poetry, this anthology features 100 classic poems spanning five centuries, each accompanied by insightful commentaries. The concept of the "heavy bear" symbolizes both burdens and companions in the poetic journey. The selection includes works from renowned poets like Shakespeare, Donne, Blake, and Dickinson, as well as modern voices such as Delmore Schwartz and notable Irish poets. Compiled by acclaimed figures Brendan Kennelly and Neil Astley, this collection aims to foster a deep, enlightening dialogue about the essence of poetry.
Brendan Kennelly's selection showcases a rich tapestry of poetry spanning five decades, featuring both familiar and previously uncollected works. This collection reinterprets his life's work, presenting poems in new arrangements that resonate with his enduring themes and preoccupations. By blending pieces from various periods, Kennelly creates a harmonious dialogue among poems that celebrate the generations of people who inspire them, making this volume a significant reflection of his artistic journey.
Buffún is wracked by the living nightmare of Irish history. His torments are surreal but no less frightening than the awful truth. When Oliver Cromwell turns up, the hapless buffoon can't cope. This Cromwell is a cocky tyrant who wants to run a football team, or start a taxi business. Enter the Belly, the IRA, an Irish giant, and Billy of the Boyne: 'William of Orange is polishing pianos / In convents and other delicate territories, / His nose purple from sipping turpentine.' Kennelly's Cromwell delighted and scandalised readers in Ireland when it was first published by a small Dublin press in 1983. This extraordinary, extravagantly Irish act of revenge has retained its power to shock.
Published on his 75th birthday, this new selection presents just over a hundred of Brendan Kennelly's most essential poems, accompanied by an audio CD of his own readings drawn from two classic recordings.
A survey of Irish poetry includes works by Beckett, Joyce, Yeats, Synge, Wilde, Goldsmith, Swift, and others
The Roman satirist Martial is brought up to date by a partner in mischief in Kennelly's Martial Art. In brief punchy poems he tries to define happiness, with candour and playful compassion. Kennelly's Martial is a sharp, visionary writer: savagely attentive and bitingly articulate