His latest poetry books from bloodaxe are the essential brendan kennelly 2011 and reservoir voices 2009. Engaging in every form of trickery from adultery to politics to poetry, kennellys judas reveals himself as the ultimate coyote mage, the complementary trickster every savior needs and demands. Click and collect from your local waterstones or get free uk delivery on orders over. Brendan kennelly s book of judas, a 400page epic poem in twelve parts, became the number one bestselling book in ireland. In 1992 a 400page book of poetry was the number one. Brendan kennelly, a literature professor at trinity college, has written many, many books of poetry, including one called cromwell, which, like the book of judas. A curates egg of a book, mixing impressive scholarship and analysis with psychobabble and often grotesque biographical speculation. The little book of judas is a distillation of that literary monster, purged. Most important is the preface in which stands out that key sentence a learned hatred is most difficult to unlearn. Brendan kennellys mission in the poem service, in brendan kennellys the book cf judas 1991, his main character, judas, says. Kennelly has written more than 20 books of poetry, drama and essays. Brendan kennellys full poetry guide includes all 2019 lc. Judas by brendan kennelly by hatto fischer judas is a widely acclaimed epic poem by brendan kennelly. The little book of judas by brendan kennelly, 9781852245849, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide.
Kennellys poetry can be scabrous, downtoearth and colloquial. We are told, for instance, that he once put away three bottles of whiskey in a day though a later chapter expands this to a daily. The book of judas, brendan kennellys 400page epic poem in twelve parts, was the number one bestselling book in ireland. Nellie mulcahy if ye dont come home, shell carry ye off in her big black bag. In these works he takes two hated and reviled historical figures and lets us look at the world through their eyes. The book of judas, the poem sequence for which kennelly is best known, is a response to a contemporary culture in which religion and politics have lost some of their stature. Nov 22, 2018 until the end of the world the song was written at the same time as one of irelands greatest poets, brendan kennelly, was writing his great book of judas, a series of poems about the. As a british reader it is hard not to wonder at kennellys peculiar position within the canon of contemporary poetry, and continue reading the essential brendan kennelly edited by terence brown and michael longley. In all, brendan kennelly has published over 20 books, but it was with his publication in 1983 of cromwell and later in 1991 of the book of judas that brendan became a household name in ireland. Kerry, and was educated at the interdenominational st. Kennelly followed his shocking epic poem cromwell with the even more notorious book of judas, which topped the irish bestsellers list. The book of judas, brendan kennelly s 400page epic poem in twelve parts, was the number one bestselling book in ireland ten years ago. The essential brendan kennelly wake forest university press. Discover book depositorys huge selection of brendan kennelly books online.
Brendan kennelly was a notoriously heavy drinker for decades. Now retired from teaching, he was professor of modern literature at trinity college, dublin until 2005. Another long 400page epic poem, the book of judas, published in 1991, topped the irish bestseller list. The little book of judas is a distillation of that literary monster, purged to its traitorous essence. The essential brendan kennelly, edited by michael longley and terence brown bloodaxe books it was a gift that took me unawares and i accepted it these lines from the gift, the second poem in this selection and uttered early in the poets journey, signal a. Her name was fear and fear begat obedience, but one day she made a real appearance a harmless hag with a bag on her back. Brendan kennelly has denounced the new book about him, behind the smile, by sandrine brisset, as hurtful to both him and his only child, doodle. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Search for library items search for lists search for.
However, kennelly has a leg up on his fellow u2 fans. The book of judas, brendan kennelly s 400page epic poem in twelve parts, was the number one bestselling book in ireland. The article in musician pointed to an epic poem, brendan kennellys the book of judas, as an inspiration for the song, particularly one line put in judas mouth. Poetry is, above all, a singing art of natural and magical connection because, though it is born out of ones persons solitude, it has the ability to reach out and touch in a humane and warmly illuminating way the solitude, even the loneliness, of others. It provides a convincing outline of the poets growth from an early lyric genius who was sensitive to discordance into the epic poet who, as the editors observe, combined the note of awestruck lyricism with notes of disgust. Spine creases, wear to binding and pages from reading. The book of judas, the poem sequence for which kennelly is best known,is a response to a contemporary culture in which religion and politics have lost some of their stature. The essential brendan kennelly edited by terence brown and.
Brendan kennelly worried mothers bawled her name to call wild children from their games. All these are available separately from bloodaxe, the latter shortened to the little book of judas. Timothy brendan kennelly born 17 april 1936 is an irish poet, novelist, and academic. Kerry, kennelly was professor of modern literature at trinity college, dublin for thirty years. The book of judas, brendan kennellys 400page epic poem in twelve parts, was the number one bestselling book in ireland ten years ago. Brendan kennellys book of judas, a 400page epic poem in twelve parts, became the number one bestselling book in ireland. Apr 17, 2011 discover book depositorys huge selection of brendan kennelly books online. Brendan kennelly born 1936 is an irish poet and novelist. Since his retirement he has been titled professor emeritus by trinity college.
Brendan kennelly is one of irelands most distinguished and best loved poets, as well as a renowned teacher and cultural commentator. The article in musician pointed to an epic poem, brendan kennelly s the book of judas, as an inspiration for the song, particularly one line put in judas mouth. Brendan kennelly, service, the book of judas newcastle upon tyne. But his sister antigone refuses to let this happen. As he does in cromwell with cromwell and buffun, kennelly builds the book of judas around the opposition of his two central characters. The essential brendan kennelly, edited by michael longley and terence brown bloodaxe books it was a gift that took me unawares and i accepted it these lines from the gift, the second poem in this selection and uttered early in the poets journey, signal a clear declaration of his commitment. Kerry, he was professor of modern literature at trinity college, dublin for over 30 years, and retired from teaching in 2005.
Whats amazing about the book aside from the poetry itself, which is wow is that kennelly essentially claims judas for ireland. Until the end of the world the song was written at the same time as one of irelands greatest poets, brendan kennelly, was writing his great book of judas, a series of poems about the. The book of judas a poem by brendan kennelly by brendan. Dec 29, 2000 kennelly has written more than 20 books of poetry, drama and essays. Poem from a three year old by bloodaxe books from desktop or your mobile device. My first experience of seeing that working out in the life of someone else occurred in an encounter with another of his poems, may the silence break, below. This new piece of mischief outjudases cromwell, sinking its teeth into the pants of poetry itself. Apr 27, 2002 the book of judas, brendan kennelly s 400page epic poem in twelve parts, was the number one bestselling book in ireland. Itas college, tarbert, county kerry, and at trinity college, where he edited icarus. At the funeral of one i chose to read another poem of brendan kennelly, the good, which you can read here, in honour of this. The book of judas is almost 400 pages of poems, most of which are from judas perspective, but also which get into the hearts and minds of modern people, many of them irish, many of them dubliners.
Kennelly is often called the peoples poet for his open, accessible style, dublins sunday tribune. Buy the book of judas limited signed edition of 30 copies each with a handwritten poem signed by the author by kennelly, brendan isbn. Like many irish people, the poet brendan kennelly is a fan of the band u2. This edition includes short essays by brendan kennelly, terence brown and kathleen mccracken. Publication date 1991 topics irish poetry translations into english, english poetry publisher bloodaxe collection.
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