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
Kitchen
This app has made me realize that there's always time for a good book. 🎉 Finding the perfect audiobook is a breeze with this app's robust search and recommendation features. My reading list has never been better! 📚💫 User-centric audiobook joy – this app's ease of use is impressive. ListenBook has become my workout buddy. It keeps me entertained and motivated during exercise. ListenBook has enriched my life with a world of captivating stories and knowledge. It's not just an app; it's a portal to endless possibilities.
CuriousCoder
I love that I can enjoy audiobooks while cooking elaborate meals in the kitchen. Finally, an app that understands the power of CUE playlists. Perfect for organizing.
Murder Cherry
Audiobooks have become my favorite workout companions, making exercise a breeze. Listening to audiobooks with my kids has become a cherished bonding activity. Audiobook multitasking simplified – this app's functionality is a triumph. The app is so well-designed. It’s clear the developers put a lot of thought into it.
Dorothy Solitaire
Thanks to this app, listening to audiobooks has become a delightful habit. 🎙️ Elevating grocery shopping to a whole new level – audiobooks make it an adventure! 🛒📚 ListenBook's loop and shuffle playback features add versatility to my audiobook listening experience. The app's support for multiple formats is flawless. Very satisfied.
Sweet Bacon
ListenBook's library organization features have transformed my chaotic audiobook collection into an organized masterpiece. ListenBook's sleek design and intuitive controls make it my go-to app for audiobooks. Audiobook magic at my fingertips! This app's comprehensive offerings, from statistics tracking to immersive audio processing, have breathed new life into my reading. 📚✨ Auto-rewind feature is extremely helpful. Great functionality. AirDrop sharing makes it easy to share audiobooks. Great feature!
Greek Rifle
ListenBook's dedication to delivering high-quality sound and user-friendly features has won me over. Audiobook enthusiasts, celebrate! This app's thoughtful features, like auto-rewind and easy chapter navigation, cater perfectly to our reading cravings. 🎉📚 Automated artwork and metadata retrieval make my library look organized and professional. Supports artwork and metadata perfectly. My library looks great! ListenBook is a game-changer for audiobook lovers. The app supports all formats, and the import process is seamless. I love the playback history feature—it’s so easy to revisit my favorite parts. Highly recommend this app!
Chip Queen
I'm constantly amazed by the variety of genres – there's something for everyone. This app has brought the magic of books back into my life. Effortlessly accessing my favorite audiobooks has become a reality, all thanks to this app's user-centric design and comprehensive format support. A must-download! 📱🎧 Automated artwork and metadata retrieval add a professional touch to my carefully curated audiobook collection.
Spooky Yellowjacket
With ListenBook, I've unlocked a world of educational and entertaining content right at my fingertips. I love that ListenBook Pro allows me to customize the tone of the sound – it adds a personal touch. I'm addicted to this app's curated playlists and recommendations – they're spot on. 🎶 Music? Nah, I prefer immersing myself in captivating stories with this app! 🎶📖 Adjusting playback speed has revolutionized the way I consume audiobooks. I can cover more ground while maintaining comprehension.
Sun Runner
Audiobooks have become a cherished part of my daily life, all thanks to this app. ListenBook has transformed my listening habits, making them more engaging and enjoyable. ListenBook Pro's noise reduction feature is a game-changer. It enhances the audio quality and ensures that I can immerse myself fully in the content. I love how I can adjust the skip intervals. It’s perfect for my listening style. The app is perfect for people who love to read but don’t have the time.
Taffy Duchess
ListenBook's audio filters and controls have revolutionized the way I enjoy my audio content. I'm amazed at how this app has made reading a seamless part of my life. 🧘♀️☕ Savoring moments of tranquility with a cup of tea and captivating tales! 🍵📖
Arsenic Coo
Talk about convenience! This app's ease of use and support for multiple audio formats ensure that I can enjoy my favorite stories without any hassle. 📱🔊 My productivity has soared since I started using ListenBook for my study materials.
Bombay Shivers
No more worries about compatibility – ListenBook handles numerous formats flawlessly. 🎶 Music? Nah, I prefer immersing myself in captivating stories with this app! 🎶📖 🚗 Turning road trips into unforgettable adventures – audiobooks keep me entertained on the journey! 🚗📖
Tweety
I've never been so entertained while doing household chores – this app is a lifesaver! I'm grateful for this app, as it allows me to keep up with my reading even while multitasking. ListenBook's dedication to delivering top-notch audio quality is evident in every detail. 🎶 Swapping background music for the soothing voices of narrators – audiobooks have become my soundtrack for daily life. 🎵📚 Listened to this on a road trip and it made the hours fly by. Even my passengers who weren't following along commented on how nice the narrator's voice was.
WeldMaster
User-centric audiobook joy – this app's ease of use is impressive. Adjustable playback speed is a brilliant feature. It adds a layer of customization to my audiobook enjoyment. I’ve been using ListenBook for months, and it’s been a fantastic experience. The app is lightweight, doesn’t drain my battery, and works perfectly in the background. The equalizer and voice boost features are amazing. Highly recommend!
BloodEater
Audiobooks on this app have transformed my daily routines into engaging experiences. This app's simplicity has made me fall in love with books all over again. 🚶♀️📖 Exploring stories as I stroll – audiobooks have turned my walks into inspiring journeys of imagination. 🏞️🎧 Noise reduction on ListenBook Pro is a revelation. It elevates the audio quality to a new level. The statistics feature is brilliant. I love seeing how much time I spend on audiobooks with ListenBook.
1st Degree
This app is a treasure trove of knowledge, entertainment, and imagination. ListenBook is a prime example of user-centered design. It's clear that the developers understand audiobook lovers' needs. Download options are plenty – I can get my audiobooks from various sources hassle-free.
Shady Lady
I'm blown away by the powerful audio downloading options. So versatile! Easy chapter access and smooth playback. Love this app!
Impulsive Flower
The sleep timer is a brilliant addition – I drift off to sleep with amazing stories. The app's intuitive design makes it easy to find and listen to my favorite authors. Thank you for making literature more accessible, enjoyable, and immersive. This app is a game-changer! I can't imagine my daily routine without ListenBook's intuitive layout and easy-to-access controls. Great for multitasking! I listened while cooking, driving, and even working out, and it kept me entertained the whole time. The narrator’s voice was pleasant, and the story flowed smoothly. Very enjoyable!
Nessie Pork
Listening to audiobooks has become my ultimate way to unwind after a long day. ListenBook's tone adjustment feature in the Pro version is a creative tool that adds a fun twist to my audiobook journey.
Friday Fox
Listening to audiobooks has become my guilt-free indulgence, and I love it. This app has transformed my daily routines into immersive storytelling experiences. Adjusting the tone of the voice is a novel feature that allows for a personalized listening experience.
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