Living Next to Leda - Softcover

Barbara Bentley

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1854111590 ISBN 13: 9781854111593

Publisher: Seren, 1996

Synopsis

This is a remarkable first collection of poems by Barbara Bentley. Her distinctively witty voice brings us the up-to-date versions of the females of mythology. 'Noah's Wife' is plagued by her DIY-mad, boat-building spouse, 'Waking Beauty' wakes from a cryogenic sleep into a bizarre future and the 'Leda' of the title poem is a deranged neighbour, convinced of a startling dream. Our consumer society and its exhortations to the modern woman to 'have it all' are scrutinised with considerable flair and irony. Watch out for 'The Telephone Sonnets' - a sequence that reveals tales of lust, infidelity, betrayal and revenge, often in the guise of techno-jargon. There are also meditative works on family, friends, childhood memories and brief glimpses of past lives such as 'Moons', a short series that subtly illuminates the consequences of a marriage.

About this title

Review

Barbara Bentley crafts imaginative, witty poems with a mature grasp of the poet's art and purpose in the world. Her voice is clear and her narrative strengths are compelling. This is a notable book - Tony Curtis A sharply intelligent and imaginative collection which will establish Barbara Bentley as one of our most enjoyable new poets - Helen Dunmore

About the Author

Barbara Bentley lives with her family in Croft, Cheshire. Her prize-winning poetry has been published in a number of journals and anthologies. She has recently completed an M.A. in Creative Writing at the University of Glamorgan while continuing to work as a full-time lecturer in Leigh, Lancashire.

About this edition

• Publisher: Seren
• Publication date: 1996
• ISBN 10: 1854111590
• ISBN 13: 9781854111593
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 72