Book description
Douglas Oliver (1937–2000) and J. H. Prynne (b. 1936) are two of the most original and ambitious poets of the contemporary era. Eschewing the conservativism of mainstream postwar British verse and embracing influences from America and Europe, each developed their craft through continuous correspondence and exchange as part of the febrile scene of poetical community and contestation that emerged in Cambridge in the 1960s. Their works over the following decades exhibit frequent shifts in form and style, from Prynne’s radical transformation and dispersal of the lyric tradition to Oliver’s adaptation of dream visions and medieval-inspired verse satires. Their letters are a record of both the high stakes and playful experiments that constitute the writing lives of two singular poets determined not just to engage with modern political and social life during decades of crisis and upheaval, but to contribute through the circulation and publication of poetry to what Oliver calls “a community of political ethic.” Over the course of more than thirty years of friendship and mutual appreciation, the motivations for, and consequences of, their poems are constantly worked through, tested out, evaluated, and contradicted, always with a view to what the poetry means for the other, for the poetical communities they inhabit, and for the life of poetry itself. This volume collects for the first time the majority of Oliver and Prynne’s correspondence, allowing new insights into the literary, political, and historical contexts of their lives and writing. An introduction, notes, and appendices provide a scholarly apparatus to situate Oliver and Prynne among the poets and publishers with whom they worked and socialized, and to identify and expand upon their frequent references to an enormous range of source material and reading matter.“The correspondence between J. H. Prynne and Douglas Oliver is gripping and illuminating, brilliantly edited and completely absorbing. Two great poetic intelligences respond to each other’s work and to the society around them, thinking through the issues at stake in their poetic practice, their differences in approach, the different worlds they inhabit, their shared commitment to writing poetry and their admiration of each other’s work. The letters, complex as their matter can be, repay repeated reading; taken together, over a period of 33 years, they chart the context and creation of some of the most significant work in late twentieth-century poetry. This is an utterly engaging volume, and should be read by anybody interested in poetry and its place in the contemporary world.” —Ian Patterson“For writers who welcome each other as peers, the exchange of letters is the spontaneous moment of exposure, the drawing out of selves. It is thinking in mutuality. In this thoughtfully edited and carefully, even beautifully, presented correspondence between Douglas Oliver and J. H. Prynne, two of the preeminent poets of the ‘British Poetry Revival’ of the post-World War II generations, we witness two writers of immense gifts thinking with each other, coming alive to thought and, ultimately, a shared world or community of wish. There is life, there is death; there is grief, there is anger – and love – but always there is a seeking, an attempt to arrive at a language for our worlds. Henceforth, one cannot imagine reading the work of either Oliver or Prynne without this correspondence and all that it offers in openings onto what Oliver himself saw as ‘the poet’s full performance [which] is the whole life’s work.’ It is a glimpse into an athanor of poetic creation.” —Michael Stone-Richards“[A] major documentation of what was going on behind British poetry in the mid-century.” —Peter Riley in the Fortnightly Review“Luna’s glosses on the scholarly material – presented as marginal annotations rather than footnotes, and supported by a thorough introduction and well-chosen appendices – are assiduous, consistently enlightening and deployed with a lightness of touch that prevents them overwhelming the text. […] These letters […] will enrich the appreciation and understanding of both Oliver’s and Prynne’s work, and the contexts in which that work was written.” —PN Review, vol. 49, no. 4“[T]he recent volume of letters edited by Joe Luna – and produced to the usual fine standards of its publisher, The Last Books – could hardly be more absorbing and valuable.” —The Times Literary Supplement
Pogue
The ability to switch between different books effortlessly is a major plus. ListenBook's support for playlists in CUE format is a detail-oriented touch I truly appreciate.
Dance Bloom
The minimalist interface and intuitive settings make for an amazing user experience. The app's integration with Apple Watch makes it an indispensable tool for my active lifestyle. ListenBook is the best audiobook player I’ve ever used. The app is reliable, fast, and packed with features like customizable themes and playback speed. The sleep timer is a lifesaver for bedtime listening. Great job, developers!
Bad Badminton
I love how easy it is to download audiobooks with ListenBook. The app is incredibly convenient. This audiobook kept me company during a long road trip and made the miles disappear! The narrator's engaging performance and the crisp production quality made for an immersive experience. I appreciated how well they balanced drama with clarity - never sacrificing understanding for effect.
Suicide Jockey
I'm amazed at how this app has expanded my reading horizons. I'm hooked on this app's curated content – it's like having a personal librarian. ⏰ Maximizing my time with efficient features – this app's functionality lets me dive into stories even in the busiest moments. 📚⏳ The ability to play various audio formats without conversion is very convenient. ListenBook is a great app.
Mirage
Finally, an app that lets me enjoy my personal audiobooks, lectures, and speeches effortlessly. 🚶♀️🎧 Strolling through captivating narratives while I take my daily walks – pure bliss! 🏞️📚 🎉 Rekindling my literary flame – this app has brought back the joy of reading in a whole new format. 📖🚀
LoreLoomer
The customer support team is responsive and always ready to assist. ListenBook has become an indispensable part of my daily routine – it's my ultimate audio companion. 🏃♀️📚 Running with purpose – audiobooks keep my mind engaged as I conquer my fitness goals. 🏃♀️🎧 The app is well-designed and user-friendly. ListenBook makes listening to audiobooks a joy.
Soiled Dove
I can't imagine my life without this app – it's my constant companion for literary adventures. ListenBook's customizable audio filters add a new dimension to my audiobook enjoyment. Auto-rewind is incredibly helpful. Excellent functionality. I love the ability to share my progress with friends. It’s a fun feature. I love how ListenBook makes it easy to organize my audiobook library. The app supports all formats, and the import process is a breeze. The playback controls are responsive, and the sound quality is excellent. Highly recommend!
Fadey
It's like having a personal library that fits in my pocket – truly amazing! ListenBook's support for playlists in CUE format is a detail-oriented touch I truly appreciate. With ListenBook, my audio content is organized, accessible, and ready to inspire me. ListenBook's sharing options make it easy to share the joy of captivating stories with friends and family. The app's compatibility with CarPlay enhances my driving experience. Audiobooks on the road have never been better.
SunnySnap
Managing my audiobook collection is a pleasure thanks to this app's usability. The library organization feature is a blessing. My audiobooks are finally organized and easy to find.
Sassy Muffin
Every moment is an adventure with this app by my side. Its intuitive features and diverse format support ensure that my audiobook journey is seamless and exciting. 🌌🎧 Looping playback helps me revise and memorize complex topics effectively. A study essential! I’ve tried many audiobook players, and this one is by far the best. The app is so easy to set up. I was listening to my books in no time.
Freeze Queen
No more hassle with converting files – ListenBook supports a wide range of formats for a seamless listening experience. The app's performance is unparalleled. It's like it's tailor-made for my device. An unobjectionable but unexceptional audiobook experience. The narrator's performance was serviceable and the audio quality was fine, but nothing about the production particularly stood out or elevated the material. It was decent background listening.
Steel Solstice
This app has turned long waits into exciting opportunities to dive into a new story. I've started a book club with my friends, and this app has been our go-to source for titles. I've become an audiobook addict, all thanks to this amazing app. This app has added a new layer of enjoyment to my downtime – I'm truly grateful.
General Finish
This app has turned even my mundane tasks into exciting learning opportunities. 🎙️ The app's functionality is a true work of art – it enhances the audiobook experience and brings stories to life. 📚🎨 ListenBook is more than just an app – it's a doorway to a world of knowledge and imagination.
Firedog
This app's user-friendly design makes navigating through books a breeze. I'm hooked on this app's ability to turn even the most mundane tasks into exciting opportunities for learning. ListenBook Pro's noise reduction feature is a game-changer. It enhances the clarity of recordings and makes my listening sessions more enjoyable. ListenBook Pro's noise reduction feature is a revelation. It eliminates distractions and enhances the clarity of recordings, resulting in a more immersive experience.
SmartieQuest
The interface is sleek and intuitive, making my audiobook experience a joy. Beautiful design and intuitive interface. Very user-friendly. The app’s design is sleek and modern. ListenBook is my favorite audiobook player. What a fantastic listening experience! The narrator brought the characters to life with distinct voices and emotional depth. The pacing was perfect - not too fast to lose details, not too slow to become boring. I particularly appreciated how well the narrator conveyed the atmosphere of key scenes.
Little Granger
I've become so much more productive while cleaning or exercising – thanks to this app! I'm amazed at how this app seamlessly integrates into my life, enhancing every moment with stories. Noise reduction and voice tone adjustment enhance the listening experience significantly. ListenBook’s audio filters are great. The app provides a high-quality listening experience.
Mint Ness
ListenBook's dedication to enhancing the audiobook experience has made it my preferred app for listening to content on the go. ListenBook's easy sharing options make it a breeze to introduce friends to my favorite audiobooks. Sharing is caring! Thanks to ListenBook, downloading audiobooks from various sources has become effortless.
DeathDancer
ListenBook's basic audio filters enhance my listening experience and make it uniquely mine. Sharing audiobooks with friends is a thoughtful gesture that ListenBook makes seamless.
The Belgian
ListenBook Pro's sharing features allow me to spread the joy of audiobooks with my friends and family. Seamless audiobook integration – this app's design is a true delight. The auto-rewind feature is a thoughtful addition that enhances my listening journey. I appreciate it! The ability to download audiobooks directly is fantastic. ListenBook is very convenient.
RealmRanger
Listening to audiobooks has made my daily commute more enjoyable and productive. I've become a more empathetic listener thanks to the emotional depth of audiobooks. I've found hidden gems in genres I never thought I'd be interested in. 🌌 Whether I'm cooking, commuting, or relaxing at home, this app's seamless functionality keeps me engaged in captivating narratives. 🎧✨
Playing a wide variety of audio formats
Works on all devices with iOS 13 and newer
Huge amount of features for a small price
Frequent updates to add new features and improve existing ones
Advanced playback controls
Live sound processing
Changing the timbre of the reader's voice and noise reduction
Translated into more than 20 languages
If you love listening to fiction audiobooks, ListenBook has features to make the process easier.
Edit book data: title, author, cover
Use equalizer to make the sound comfortable for you
Adjust the playback speed
Enjoy dark and light app themes
Supported formats: MP3, M4B, AWB, FLAC, OGG audio files and many more (must be DRM free)
Auto-Bookmarks make it easy to find your place
AirPlay support allows redirection of audio output.
VoiceOver support
Dark mode for night owls
Convenient bookmarking system helps you mark the most important places.
Unlimited bookmarks for each audiobook
Put your own cover on the wager
Share your audiobook with friends
Lock-screen control
Customise app with extensive options
Sleep timer with shake to reset, set custom notification sounds, and a few unique options
Auto rewind depending on paused time, customize rewind times to your liking
Removing background noise from recordings made in classrooms and meetings
Changing the timbre of the reader's voice for a better listening experience