Same Difference

Same Difference

Paperback (28 Feb 2022)

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Publisher's Synopsis

Same Difference is the formally acute second collection from poet and critic Ben Wilkinson. Carefully crafted yet charged with contemporary language, the poems experiment with poetic voice and the dramatic monologue, keeping the reader on their toes and asking just who is doing the talking. Tough, gritty, and often moving, this is a collection for our times.

An understanding of the human spirit and the complexity of relationships underpin these poems. Brimming with everyone from cage fighters and boy-racers to cancer patients and whales in captivity, Wilkinson unpicks the preconceptions and prejudices that inform our encounters with the world.

He casts a scrutinising eye on the mystery of failed and successful relationships, male depression, the history of meat eating. He takes a sideways glance at sport, particularly the rewards of running, to which he is a noted devotee, and the philosophy behind athletic competition.

Throughout, he 'steps into the shoes' of French symbolist poet Paul Verlaine (1844-1896). Finding affinity with Verlaine's astringent tone and ruthless clarity, Wilkinson borrows his 'punchy and musical' phrasing to reframe Verlaine's voice for modern readers.

Seeking to undermine the confessional mode throughout, Wilkinson often weaves his arguments with traditional rhyme and metre. This formally elegant, wide-ranging collection sits firmly in the twenty-first century.

About the Publisher

Seren

Seren

Seren is an independent literary publisher, specialising in English-language writing from Wales. Our prize-winning list has something to offer anyone with an interest in excellent writing. Our aim is not simply to reflect what is going on in the culture in which we publish, but to drive that culture forward, to engage with the world, and to bring Welsh literature, art and politics before a wider audience.Over its thirty year existence Seren has developed into one of the most interesting publishing houses in Britain. Based in Bridgend and aiming primarily to give voice to outstanding writing in the English language from Wales, Seren continues to nurture and publish new talent whose quality is recognized around the world.At the heart of our list is a good story told well or an idea or history presented interestingly or provocatively, what used to be called literary publishing before accountants and managers gained ascendancy. We're international in authorship and readership though our roots remain here in Wales (seren = star in Welsh) where we prove that writers from a small country with an intricate culture have a worldwide relevance.

Book information

ISBN: 9781781726488
Publisher: Seren
Imprint: Seren
Pub date:
DEWEY: 821.92
DEWEY edition: 23
Language: English
Number of pages: 61
Weight: 106g
Height: 215mm
Width: 138mm
Spine width: 8mm