David Lightfoot (1941 – 2026) – teacher, poet, novelist & editor: some recollections by friend and colleague Rob Etty
authors
PATERSON Alwyn Marriage considers a re-issue of the monumental and unfinished epic by William Carlos Williams
Lady Susan. Review by Barbara Lewis. “Lady Susan” is either the culmination of Jane Austen’s youthful experiments with epistolary novels and the narration of society scandals or the beginning of her mature phase of subtle characterisation and the establishment of her distinctive voice, depending on your viewpoint.
Poetry review – RETURN TO SENDAI Nick Cooke takes an in-depth look at a major compilation of work by Peter Robinson
THE LITERARY BUSINESS Paul McDonald enjoys Peter Finch’s lively and insightful account of more than half a century experiencing the vagaries of life as a writer and literary administrator
Poetry review – SONG OF THE YELLOW ASTERS Charles Rammelkamp reviews a moving and important posthumous collection by Selma Meerbaum-Eisinger, translated from the German by Carlie Hoffman
Poetry review – NOT MY BEST SIDE: John Forth admires this new selection of U A Fanthorpe’s poetry for its laconic and compassionate voice and its comic precision
THINGS BEING VARIOUS: John Lucas discusses two very different works by Neil Curry – a monograph on Horace Walpole and a slim volume of delicate and well-observed poetry
THE MOON LOOKS ON THEM ALL: Angela Topping browses a collection of essays by John Lucas on the subject of friends and friendship
Poetry review – COLLECTED POEMS: Edmund Prestwich is grateful for this full and eminently readable record of Fleur Adcock’s poetic creativity
A HIGH CALLING: Paul McDonald enjoys discovering John Greening’s ideas on the how and why of writing poetry
A DISLOCATION OF MIND: Alwyn Marriage examines David Banning’s self-declared “attempts to engage with the many contradictions swirling around in the mind of RS Thomas”
By Michael Bartholomew-Biggs • authors, books, poetry, religion, year 2026 • Tags: Alwyn Marriage, books, poetry, religion