Other books that might interest you

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  The Southbury Child (NHB Modern...

  Stephen Beresford

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  Raffish, urbane and frequently drunk, David Highland has kept a grip on his remote coastal parish through a combination of disordered charm and high-handed determination.
  When his faith impels him to take a hard line with a bereaved parishioner, he finds himself dangerously isolated from public opinion. As his own family begins to fracture, David must face a future that threatens to extinguish not only his position in the town, but everything he stands for.
  Stephen Beresford's play The Southbury Child is a darkly comic drama exploring family and community, the savage divisions of contemporary society, and the rituals that punctuate our lives. It was co-produced by Chichester Festival Theatre and the Bridge Theatre, London, in 2022, starring Alex Jennings and directed by Nicholas Hytner.

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  Joy Is So Exhausting

  Susan Holbrook

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  Joyfully melding knowing humour and torqued-up wordplay, Holbrook’s second collection is a comic fusion of the experimental and the experiential, the procedural and the lyric. Punch lines become sucker punches, line breaks slip into breakdowns, the serious plays comical and the comical turns deadly serious. Holbrook's poems don’t use humour as much as they deconstruct the comic impulse, exposing its roots in the political, the psychological and the emotional life of the mind. Many of these poems import shapes and source texts from elsewhere – home inspection reports, tampon instructions, poems by Lorca – in a series of translations, transpositions and transgressions that invite a more intimate and critical rapport with the written word. This is not merely a book, it is a chocolate-covered artificially intelligent virus with an impish sense of humour that will continue to replicate in your mind long after initial exposure.

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  Talisman for the Soul

  Andrew Bell

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  ‘Talisman for the Soul’ is an immersive and illuminating collection that expresses a powerful intensity of emotion, exploring overarching themes of human interaction, as well as the human need to transform and adapt as individuals. Written by a poet of rare descriptive power, the poems speak to a world of increasing disconnection, one that is careering towards climate breakdown and ecological destruction. The poems seek to reconnect with the mystery and sacredness of human life by exploring the foundations of human identity through themes that touch us all: love and loss, humour, beauty, joy, relationships, and the natural world.

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  The Quizziology Of The British...

  Gilbert Abbott A'Beckett

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  Discover the Wit and Wonder of British Drama from the height of the Victorian era! 
  Step into the captivating world of British theatre with The Quizziology of the British Drama, a delightful and witty exploration of the plays, playwrights, and performances that have shaped the stage. Penned by the brilliant satirist and dramatist Gilbert Abbott A'Beckett, this charming book explores the stage passions through extended verse, a motley crew of stage characters that no good play is without, and a series of one-act 'deleted' plays in the style of famous playwrights of the time. 
  A'Beckett, a master of humor and keen observer of the theatrical arts, takes you on a journey through the triumphs and foibles of British drama. From Shakespearean classics to the farces and melodramas of the 19th century, The Quizziology of the British Drama offers a unique blend of exposition, critique, and playful commentary. Whether you're a seasoned theatregoer or a curious newcomer, this book promises to spark your curiosity and leave you laughing at the quirks of the dramatic world. 
  Perfect for book clubs, drama students, or writers, The Quizziology of the British Drama is full of sharp wit and clever observations. With its engaging style and timeless appeal, this book is a must-have for anyone who appreciates the magic of the stage. 
  Don’t miss your chance to own this gem of theatrical literature. Add The Quizziology of the British Drama to your collection today and uncover the fascinating, funny, and unforgettable world of British theatre!

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  The Book of Hours - a new poetic...

  Rainer Maria Rilke, Brett Alan...

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  Written at the turn of the twentieth century, The Book of Hours is one of the most significant works of modern German poetry. There has never been an English translation that preserved the tight poeticism and Christian mysticism of the original until now. In this long poem, the narrator-poet is a monk and icon painter desperately trying to see God in a way that his art can’t capture. Over three sections (The Book of Monkish Life, The Book of Pilgrimage, and The Book of Poverty & Death), Rilke takes the narrator on a journey from the pastoral lands of his monastery to the bustling and inhuman cities of the world on a quest to make sense of God's central mystery. A variety of images recur: building, trees (roots and fruits), ripening, ore, and what Rilke simply calls "the things". Through these motifs, the narrator seeks to understand God by exploring imagery that is the inverse of the usual Biblical symbols. What can we learn by thinking of God as darkness, as son, as poor neighbor, or as the rock that runs through the earth...? And, ultimately, what truly are poverty and death to the holy pilgrim?

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  Bogboy

  Deirdre Kinahan

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  Two lost souls – a young heroin addict and a reclusive middle-aged farmer – discover a budding friendship in the bogs of Meath, until a terrible secret comes to light.
  Deirdre Kinahan's short play Bogboy was originally written as a radio play for RTÉ. It was first staged by Tall Tales theatre company at Solstice Arts Centre in 2010.

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