Hardest Poetry Book You’ll Ever Read (Probably)

Well, it’s that exciting time again when I can announce the release of a new publication! 😀

I’m super thrilled to be able to share with all of you Anarchy for the Innocents, which I’ve been working on for the past few months, and was in fact one of the reasons for not being too active here on this blog.

Continue reading “Hardest Poetry Book You’ll Ever Read (Probably)”

5 days to go! Anglo-Saxon epic poem Kickstarter

Hey all! I’m super excited to report that a great number of people have backed up my Kickstarter campaign for the publication of a special hardback edition of Hæstingas: A retelling of the valiant fall of England in verse.

The book is a historical fantasy, 4,000-line epic poem set during one of the most turbulent times in English history.

We’re only 5 days away from the end of the campaign. So if you wish to back this project, now’s the time to do so 😀

Copies of the paperback edition of Hæstingas are still available from Amazon.com and Amazon UK.

Till next time! 😉

Anglo-Saxon historical fantasy epic poem | Crowdfunding begins!

Hey folks! Back again from the shadows 🙂

I hope you’re all sage and are having a good start to the new year.

Just dropping by for a quick shout-out to a Kickstarter campaign just launched.

As many followers of this blog may know, I wrote a book back in November 2019: Hæstingas: A retelling of the valiant fall of England in verse.

The book, a historical fantasy, 4,000-line epic poem set during one of the most turbulent times in English history, is now getting the Special Edition Hardcover treatment!

If you have an interest in Anglo-Saxon history, are a fantasy reader and love to odd-bit o’ poetry (as Samwise Gamgee would say) every now and then, your support in this endeavour would be most appreciated!

Rewards and bundles are there for the taking, so head over to the Kickstarter campaign page and take a look.

In the meantime, copies of the paperback edition of Hæstingas are still available from Amazon.com and Amazon UK.

Till next time! 😉

Lay of Leofwin project #Update 2

bayeux

Alas! dear readers and followers of A Tolkienist’s Perspective. I feel a long apology is due to redress my absence during these last few months. However, a short note must suffice at this stage. Although I’ve been actively replying to comments that still flow through on a weekly basis on this blog (thank you!), one of the reasons for my inactivity was precisely this Lay of Leofwin project, which I delve into a bit more in this post.

Hence, read on dear reader, read on …

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It soon becomes apparent to readers delving into Tolkien’s writings, that the aforementioned author was fascinated by the Anglo-Saxon world that thrived in England between c.450AD and 1066 — the latter, an infamous year in history when the Battle of Hastings took place. Continue reading “Lay of Leofwin project #Update 2”

Tolkien’s Poetry | Octosyllabic Couplets + New Project Announcement

 

Tapisserie de Bayeux - Scène 32 : des hommes observent la comète de Halley

The Lay of Aotrou and Itroun and The Lay of Leithian are, in my opinion, two masterly-crafted long, epic poems (even though the latter, alas, remains unfinished).

I am no poetry expert, having never managed to successfully appreciate many poems (especially those of the modern sort, with free verse and all that), but there was something in Tolkien’s own poetic writings which I found accessible, instant and attractive. And while Tolkien might not be considered one of the great poetry writers, his verses seem to embody a character of their own — steeped in history and language, harking back to the style and tone of the great classical works, The Odyssey, The Divine Comedy and, naturally, Beowulf. Continue reading “Tolkien’s Poetry | Octosyllabic Couplets + New Project Announcement”

‘Taliessin Through Logres’ – Charles Williams {BookTalk}

BookTalk is a series of blog posts, where I discuss non-Tolkien books in concise and honest reviews. Read on dear reader …

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Taliessin.pngWell, I’m not sure exactly how to write this review.

I was aware, before I ever purchased a copy of this book, that Williams’s writing was dense and difficult to comprehend on a first-time basis. That has been the case in this instance. Continue reading “‘Taliessin Through Logres’ – Charles Williams {BookTalk}”

‘The Chapel of the Thorn’ by Charles Williams {BookTalk}

BookTalk is a new series of blog posts, where I discuss non-Tolkien books in concise and honest reviews. Read on dear reader …

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The Chapel of the Thorn (cover).png

Having focused my reading habits on the works of Tolkien and Lewis for years now, not to mention acquiring a book or two about the Inklings, I thought it was the right time to dip into some of the works by other members of that literary group.

And what better way to do this than by exploring the somewhat obscure figure of Charles Williams himself? Continue reading “‘The Chapel of the Thorn’ by Charles Williams {BookTalk}”