Penelope Shuttle Books

This is a book of many questions and some answers. What is this menstruation that half the world undergoes? Has it any use, or any purpose? Which is it, blessing or curse?This groundbreaking study of the facts, fantasies, and taboos surrounding menstruation has helped bring about a profound shift in attitudes toward a natural phenomenon that has been reviled and denigrated over the centuries. Thoroughly researched yet highly readable, combining psychology, anthropology, and poetry, Shuttle and Redgrove illustrate their theories using examples ranging from the Bible to such modern-day pop horrors as vampire movies and the cult film The Exorcist.

Exploring themes of mythology and environmentalism, the narrative weaves together Penelope Shuttle's poetic reflections inspired by Old English dictionaries and a medieval mystery play about Noah. The work critiques patriarchal norms through the lens of Noah's wife, Emzara, while drawing connections between ancient stories and contemporary issues. By blending rich biblical imagery with modern concerns, it presents a vision that reimagines the future, highlighting the interplay between past and present.

Exploring themes of nature and resilience, this collection of sonnets reflects on the pandemic experience. The authors creatively juxtapose the vibrancy of the natural world against the monotony of lockdown life. Their playful approach to sonnet forms results in a visually engaging pamphlet that offers accessible yet profound poetry. With a bold voice, the work captures the essence of confronting and overcoming the challenges of isolation, making a powerful statement against the "lockdown blues."

The submerged land of Lyonesse was once part of Cornwall, according to myth, standing for a lost paradise in Arthurian legend, but becomes an emblem of human frailty in the face of climate change in Penelope Shuttle's new poems. The second part of the book, New Lamps for Old, is a collection of poems searching for meaning in life after bereavement.