I knew Francis quite well when we both lived in Winchester. He gave
occasional poetry readings in a high dramatic style which was quite
effective once you got over the initial culture shock. (He was famous as a
poetry reader in his younger days and wrote a book about voice in poetry.)
When I knew him, he was already into his 80s, and had a charming,
considerably younger wife, Eileen, who confined him to one corner of one
room, which he would cover with papers and cigarette ash. He gave me a copy
of his Collected Poems, which I'm embarrassed to say I haven't read much
of - being rather daunted by the size of the book, the length of the poems
and the lack of an obvious entry point. I've just got it down, following
Robin's recommendation, and am having another look.
Best wishes
Matthew
----- Original Message -----
From: <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Wednesday, August 08, 2001 10:20 PM
Subject: Re: Beowulf (was Re: HG my name JG my game WS wont same)
> > But
> >the master has to be Francis Berry -- "Morant Bay", _Ghosts of
Greenland_,
> >and as shorter example, "Hvalsey" (in _GG_, and Lucie-smith's BP since
45).
>
> Yes - that's FABULOUS.
>
> Tell me - does anyone know anything about him? All I know of him is the
> anthology poems -
>
> Best
>
> A
>
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