River of Verse
River of Verse
A Tasmanian Journey 1800-2004
Edited by Helen Gee
Published by Back River Press
ISBN: 0 646 44182 5
Helen Gee, writer and poet, has edited a spectacular collection of verse written about Tasmania from the earliest days until early in the 21st century, the place, its people, history and culture.
It begins with two traditional Aboriginal songs and showcases the work of some 150 poets, some Tasmanian born, some comparitive newcomers, some who visited briefly. As Gee writes: ‘I followed a very simple rule: if the verse was essentially Tasmanian and I really liked it, I included it.’
Continued …
Beyond Organics
Beyond Organics: Gardening for the future
By Helen Cushing
Published by ABC Books
ISBN 0 73333 1575 5
This book is something every gardener should read.
It’s disturbing, inspirational, instructive, persuasive. It’s a clarion call for all who love the earth and love to garden.
It is not a how-to book — you can look for the appropriate how-to publications later.
Peter Cundall, one of the founders in Tasmania of the organics movement, wrote the foreword and also spoke at the launch in Hobart of Helen Cushing’s remarkable book. As he said at the time, echoing one of main themes of Helen’s text:
Continued …
a little more
a little more: Celebrating a life of letters
By Margaret Scott and individual contributors
Published by Summerhill Publishing
ISBN 0-9757460-0-6
In essence — to commemorate the awarding of an Emeritus Award from the Australia Council’s Literature Board to Tasman Peninsula-based poet and author Margaret Scott, it was decided to publish an anthology of some of her works, encompassing poetry, prose, after-dinner speeches and magazine articles.
Friends and colleagues were invited to write of their association with Margaret and of how her works and life had affected them, and their responses in prose or poetry are scattered throughout the pages. So indirectly we see the thread of Margaret’s life; the book becomes a multi-layered portrait of not only the artist but also the woman herself.
That’s the bare bones. The only trouble with reviewing this spirited, warm and inviting anthology (no trouble in itself, of course, but a very great delight) is the care with which one must choose words. Or, in other words, what can one say that doesn’t inevitably sound humdrum when faced with Margaret Scott’s lambent prose and famous wit?
Continued …
Page 1 of 1 pages
