Cirrus@Austlit

A dedicative homage to the Japanese poet Matsuo Basho, "Following in the footsteps of Basho is a different type of Japanese travel log. Written in the engaging and insightful style that made Basho's travel accounts so popular, it is mixture of prose, poetry and images, drawing the reader not only into the world of Japan but also into the author's own mind and personal contemplations. The destinations outlined in the book are as diverse as Japan itself, ranging from the mountain colds of Hokkaido, to the rural tranquillity of Hiraizumi... as well as the more conventional tourist attractions of Tokyo and Kyoto. Focussing on culture and history, "Following in the footsteps of Basho is a must for any lover of Japan. Let the images and poetic commentary take you on an arm-chair adventure deep into the interior... of the Rising Sun!' (Publication summary)

The volume is divided into four categories:

1. Ballads from the Southland

2. Ballads from the Heart

3. Ballads of War and Woe

4. Ballads of God and Nature

'"War makes devils of us all." But what happens to these devils when they come back to live amongst us? Who cares for these living dead, attempting to make sense of civilization once more? EDWARD, a dark, explorative play by Mark Williams examines these very issues.

'Set in suburbia, but never far from the jungle, we journey with Edward, a man desperate to be accepted, trying to connect with the civilized world after a 3 year deployment in Africa. Scared and confused, intelligent and caring, violent and brutal, we accompany Edward as he deals with the conflict within him. His path, like that of Ulysses, puts him in contact with numerous modern-day soothsayers... each has a story to tell and a message to give.'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

The collection is divided into two parts: songs (pp.1-9) and poems (pp.10-32).