The definitive selection of John Burnside's extraordinary and vibrant poems, taken from across decades but always stirring, curious, alert to the natural world and the people in it
'It's impossible not to love the world more when reading Burnside' GUARDIAN
Over thirty-five years and seventeen collections, John Burnside built a body of poetry that was consistently luminous, original and profound, always in thrall to the glamourie - a magical, fleeting enchantment - always in search of settlement, harmony and grace.
His work is both intimately personal and universal, often moving through stages of vulnerability, turbulence, terror, and desire, to artistic positions that are sensitive and highly alert. He risked much for his art and its integrity, in order to arrive at a new and unique understanding of beauty and truth - and to offer a fresh angle from which to view the world, through nature, myth, and magic. For him, every poem was an alchemical transformation, a metamorphosis, an epiphany.
'Among the best writers of his generation, fully voiced and perfectly pitched' Andrew O'Hagan
'A master of language' Hilary Mantel
'Burnside's sharp, suturing language allows us to know the world as it is: ragged and broken, yet full of impossibly fragile beauty' Rebecca Tamás
| ISBN: | 9781787336667 |
| Publication date: | 20th August 2026 |
| Author: | John Burnside |
| Publisher: | Jonathan Cape an imprint of Vintage Publishing |
| Format: | Hardback |
| Pagination: | 240 pages |
| Genres: |
Modern and contemporary poetry (c 1900 onwards) Poetry by individual poets |
The definitive selection of John Burnside's extraordinary and vibrant poems, taken from across decades but always stirring, curious, alert to the natural world and the people in it'It's impossible not to love the world more when reading Burnside' GUARDIANOver thirty-five years and seventeen collections, John Burnside built a body of poetry that was consistently luminous, original and profound, always in thrall to the glamourie - a magical, fleeting enchantment - always in search of settlement, harmony and grace.His work is both intimately personal and universal, often moving through stages of vulnerability, turbulence, terror, and desire, to artistic positions that are sensitive and highly alert. He risked much for his art and its integrity, in order to arrive at a new and unique understanding of beauty and truth - and to offer a fresh angle from which to view the world, through nature, myth, and magic.
Driftwork features in the following genres: Modern and contemporary poetry (c 1900 onwards), Poetry by individual poets
Hardback. £14.40, down from the £16.00 cover price. In Stock.
Driftwork was written by John Burnside and published by Jonathan Cape an imprint of Vintage Publishing
Driftwork has 240 pages
£14.40, reduced from £16.00. In Stock.