Slipcase 2nd edition of this delightful, moving VERVE Poetry bestseller.
In November 2021, Helen Mort's father had two life altering strokes.
Dad vs. Dad is an account of the aftermath of those strokes. In this hardback multi-media pamphlet length collection, Helen Mort combines lyric poetry with visual-text pieces involving erasure poetry made from working with one of her father's favourite chess books. The effects of a stroke and stroke recovery are documented through the language of strategy and struggle.
'In chess, a move requires a response (until it doesn't, like the game of life). Check. Check mate. Erasing elements of an existing text, I set arbitrary rules for myself. There is an arrangement here, a sequence, an attempt to find a pattern. Grappling with a text is easy. Grappling with your own altered body and brain is hard. These pages do not reflect my dad's experience of stroke or my mum's experience of supporting him in ongoing recovery. They are just a series of movements. They take the time they take (until time takes them).' - Helen, in her introduction
| ISBN: | 9781913917869 |
| Publication date: | 9th October 2025 |
| Author: | Helen Mort |
| Publisher: | Verve Poetry Press |
| Format: | Hardback |
| Genres: |
Poetry by individual poets |
Slipcase 2nd edition of this delightful, moving VERVE Poetry bestseller.
In November 2021, Helen Mort's father had two life altering strokes.
Dad vs. Dad is an account of the aftermath of those strokes. In this hardback multi-media pamphlet length collection, Helen Mort combines lyric poetry with visual-text pieces involving erasure poetry made from working with one of her father's favourite chess books. The effects of a stroke and stroke recovery are documented through the language of strategy and struggle.
'In chess, a move requires a response (until it doesn't, like the game of life). Check. Check mate. Erasing elements of an existing text, I set arbitrary rules for myself. There is an arrangement here, a sequence, an attempt to find a pattern. Grappling with a text is easy. Grappling with your own altered body and brain is hard. These pages do not reflect my dad's experience of stroke or my mum's experience of supporting him in ongoing recovery. They are just a series of movements. They take the time they take (until time takes them).' - Helen, in her introduction
Dad Vs. Dad features in the following genres: Poetry by individual poets
Dad Vs. Dad is available in Hardback
Dad Vs. Dad was written by Helen Mort and published by Verve Poetry Press
£10.80