is the title of an article in the current Contemporary Poetry Review by
J.K.Halligan on Tom Paulin's recent 'The Invasion Handbook'. I read the
article with interest having only (last week) read the Paulin volume. TP is
an ambiguous figure in respect of the 'poetic left', of the left he
certainly is, yet one feels that many in the garrets regard him as 'one of
Them'. The book in question is dominated by historical politics, a loose
farrago of sketches an extended monologues around the build-up to the Second
World War. My own feeling was that some of the more concise pieces, plus a
few where Paulin seems to 'get inside' a protagonist, like one about a
Battle of Britain airman, were the best. My main reservation, after two read
throughs, was that the rhythm was too meandering, it seemed to amble on in a
vaguely loquacious way and thus incidents lost definition. Anyhow, Paulin is
certainly a British and Irish poet (!) so I wonder if anyone else has any
views on the book, especially on how it may or may not relate to
'linguistically innovative' (how I hate that term) practice?
Best
Dave
David Bircumshaw
Leicester, England
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