Cirrus@Austlit

'Andrew Sant is a substantial yet somewhat elusive figure in contemporary Australian poetry. Born in London, he arrived in Melbourne with his parents at age twelve in 1962. Over the years, he has published at least eleven collections, co-founded the literary magazine Island, and been, for a time, a member of the Literature Board of the Australia Council. More recently, Sant has lived and worked in the United Kingdom, but he clearly retains links with Australia, particularly Tasmania, where he first became known as a poet.'(Introduction)            

'Few Australian poets can equal Geoff Page's depth, variety and longevity. Twenty five collections published over the last fifty years. His influence on the Australian poetry landscape as writer, reviewer and convenor of poetry events continues to be perceptive, pervasive and profound. As he embraces his ninth decade the rich flow of uniquely Pageian observations, insights, meditations and word plays continues unabated.

'His new collection Penultima meanders musically from the Bach family to Lester Young, grounded by a lively basso pizzicato. A contemplative, self-knowing five poem sequence, The Misanthrope, counterpoints brief, artful sketches of some personal icons such as Jacob Rosenberg, Bishop John Hall of Norwich and saxophonist Lee Konitz. There are darker tones, as always in his work: American gun culture, the sins of the church. And finally, as always in the Geoff Page universe, love supervenes once again:

since late-life love is love discovered

just in time to get things right

a boundless summer afternoon . . .

before the cosmos flips the light.' (Publication summary)

'Andrew Taylor has been an important figure in the Australian poetic landscape since his first book, The Cool Change, appeared in 1971. Identified with no particular group or aesthetic tendency, he has worked as poet and academic in Melbourne, Adelaide, and Perth, and is now retired from teaching and based in Sydney.'  (Introduction)