Bishop Bernard's Door and other poems, by Peter Strauss (used)

Peter Strauss was born in Pietermaritzburg in 1941 and spent his childhood there; other environments of which he has strong early memories are his grandparents' farm in Elandskraal across the Tugela ('rural Africa of some sort') and later a holiday cottage on the north coast ('inexpungible utopia of the senses'). Subsequently he spent much time in Europe, being educated and educating himself. He now teaches English literature at the University of Natal in Durban and lives with his wife and three children just outside the city.

Bishop Bernward's Door and other poems is his second volume of poems - the first, Photographs of Bushmen, was published by Bateleur Press in 1974. Readers will be keenly aware in this collection of a poet in transition, with an intriguing restlessness of technique and themes ranging widely: from Africa, Europe and the East; from old cultures and fresh experience.

Some poets explore their subject within the confines of traditional form, others allow their subject to grow into its own form. Many of the poems in this book, like the achieved and disturbing ‘Wolf Poem’, are an intense exploration of that space. The title poem of this volume received a Pringle Award in 1982.

condition: good (cover lightly worn and yellowed)