Quaintness and Other Offences by Ann Drysdale
Excerpt ()
Fifth collection from acclaimed poet, non-fiction writer and journalist
Winner of the Dylan Thomas Prize
Winner of Poetry Digest’s Bard of the Year Award
Second prize winner in 2001 National Poetry Competition
Characterised by wry wit, delightful humour and an extraordinary grasp of the intricacies of language, the fifth poetry collection from acclaimed poet, biographer and journalist, Ann Drysdale, displays all the skills of an assured and deeply humane writer. Her ability to handle poignant subjects with emotional acuity, but not a trace of sentimentality, is matched by her astute intelligence and sharp eye; her feeling for form is matched by the precision and dexterity with which she uses language whether to entertain, delight or move her readers. Varied, immediate and accomplished, this is poetry that speaks to a wide audience.
Ann Drysdale is an acclaimed poet, non fiction writer and journalist. She was born near Manchester, brought up in London, married in Birmingham, ran a small holding and raised three children on the North York Moors and lives half way up a mountain in South Wales. She was a journalist for many years writing, among other things, the longest-running by-line column for the Yorkshire Evening Post. She has won many prizes for her writing and written several poetry collections and non-fiction books, including the two-part memoir Three-three, two-two, five-six and Discussing Wittgenstein, described by Professor Raymond Tallis as a ‘masterpiece’.