Cirrus@Austlit

'The Best Australian Poetry 2007 celebrates the vibrancy and force of poetry in Australia now. Guest Editor John Tranter has selected 40 of the best poems of the preceding year. With revealing comments from the poets, The Best Australian Poetry 2007 is an indispensable addition to a series. Now in its fifth year, it is widely recognised as the most dependable guide to what is new and remarkable in Australian poetry.'  (Publication summary)

'In this book of poetry, Kingsbury is where the poet has been based since he came from the People's Republic of China in 1991, the first time he came into extensive contact, and conflict with a very different culture and multi-culture.

'Covering a period of about 160 years from the First Opium War (1840) to the beginnings of the 21st century, The Kingsbury Tales serves up a poetic plate of multi-taste choice foods with choice tales, each tale represented by a poem, not longer than one A-4 page, told by people from all walks of life, including wives, concubines, lawyers, diplomats, students, professors, factory workers, mental patients and visitors, from a colonial and postcolonial point of view.' (Publisher's blurb)