Wednesday, June 23, 2010

FRIDAY JULY 2nd Charlie Byrne's Bookshop Hosts Galway Launch of 'Identity Parade: New British & Irish Poets', Edited by Roddy Lumsden, Published by Bloodaxe Books


Over The Edge in association with Bloodaxe Books presents the Galway launch of the generation definining poetry anthology Identity Parade: New British & Irish Poets. The launch will take place in Charlie Byrne’s Bookshop, Middle Street, Galway on Friday, July 2nd from 6pm.

There will be readings by six of the contributing poets, Julia Bird, Judy Brown, Sarah Corbett, Sasha Dugdale, Kevin Higgins & Mark Waldron with introductions by the editor Roddy Lumsden. All are welcome to attend.

Identity Parade presents new British and Irish poetry at a time of great vibrancy and variety. It is the first anthology to comprehensively represent the generation of poets who have emerged since the mid-1990s. Eclectic, diverse and wide-ranging in scope, the book fully reflects the climate of “the pluralist now”. It offers the work of 85 highly individual and distinctive talents whose poems display the breadth of styles and approaches characteristic of our current poetry.

These writers are prospering all over Britain and Ireland – from Shetland to Aberystwyth, from Gravesend to Galway – as well as further afield. Many new and undersung poets appear alongside this generation’s most celebrated names, and probably for the first time in any major poetry anthology, more women writers than men are featured. All the poets have either published first collections within the past 15 years or make their debut within the next year.

Identity Parade is as accessible to the new reader as to the aficionado, with each poet introduced by a biographical note also covering their themes and concerns. This is the essential starting place for anyone interested in the poetry of here and now.

Over The Edge acknowledges the ongoing generous financial support of Galway City Council and The Arts Council

For more about Identity Parade see http://www.bloodaxebooks.com/titlepage.asp?isbn=1852248394