Niall Campbell's ruggedly beautiful poems have a three-dimensional quality, as if sculpted from their images of grit, rope and sand: others seem to come from the sea itself, distilled down to their essence - short, intimate poems with a long finish. They welcome you into their world with a quiet assurance, in the voice of a seasoned poet. A stunning ... Read moredebut.
Patience Agbabi The persisting metaphor of the sea moves continually through this remarkable first collection. These are beautifully crafted poems which grow in impact with reading - from ghost dogs to beached whales, from Eriskay to Grez sur Loing, from Dostoevsky to Zola, the strength of this collection lies in its scope as much as its skill and originality. Though they are poems of islands and margins, they are neither insular nor marginal – their true value lies is their relevance - they talk to us of concerns that are our own; the forces and desires they describe, also drive us. Through poems which are in turn darkly lyrical, atmospheric, humorous and moving, Campbell proves himself an important new voice and a genuine talent to be reckoned with.
John Glenday Show Less