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Leaving
A Poem from the Time of the Virus
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Leaving
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?
Ideal for readers interested in contemporary poetry, cultural reflections on the pandemic, and European literature. Those who appreciate poetic meditations on history, memory, and mortality will find this collection compelling. It suits both literary scholars and general readers seeking profound artistic responses to current global challenges.
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Description
An exceptionally current volume of poems from one of Europe’s greatest poets that dwell on the most pressing reality of our times: the coronavirus pandemic.
One of the leading living European writers, Cees Nooteboom never shies away from contemporary issues. His latest collection of poems, Leaving, begins in a garden with descriptions of Mediterranean plants, but what emerges are memories of the war—images of a distant past that have never disappeared. The poems take another turn when, unexpectedly, a mysterious virus takes control of the world and turns life upside down.
A collection that can be read as a single poem, in which desolation and beauty, past and future, nostalgia and mortality all merge to represent the most mature work of a great poet. German artist Max Neumann’s haunting images that accompany the poems work as complex visual metaphors that further underline the beauty and the gravity of the poems. Together, they make for a delicate and thoughtful read.
Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?
Critics praise Leaving for its mature and insightful treatment of the pandemic. Harriet Books highlights poetry's capacity to bring order to chaos, recognising Nooteboom's work as timely and deeply resonant. The Cleveland Review of Books commends the poet's refusal to engage with banal quarantine tropes, instead situating the pandemic within broader temporal context. Additionally, the Canadian Journal of Netherlandic Studies notes the translation's transformative quality for new audiences. Overall, the collection is celebrated for its thoughtful, non-cliché perspective and haunting imagery.
Book Details
INFORMATION
ISBN: 9780857428837
Publisher: Seagull Books London Ltd
Format: Hardback
Date Published: 01 March 2022
Country: United Kingdom
Imprint: Seagull Books London Ltd
Illustration: 33 color plates
Contributors:
- Translated by David Colmer
- Illustrated by Max Neumann
- Translated by David Colmer
Audience: General / adult
DIMENSIONS
Spine width: 20.0mm
Width: 159.0mm
Height: 229.0mm
Weight: 340g
Pages: 92
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About the Author
Cees Nooteboom is one of Europe’s leading living authors. His poetry, novels and, travel literature have been translated into many languages. Several of his books, including Light Everywhere and Monk’s Eye, are also available from Seagull Books. Max Neumann is a German artist. David Colmer is an award-winning translator.
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