This is the cover for Fauverie my sixth collection, due out from Seren in September 2014. The design is by Dragana Nikolic, who painted the cover and illustrations for my Serbian edition of The Zoo Father. Here is a draft of the jacket description:
The Fauverie of this book is the big-cat house in the Jardin des Plantes zoo. But the word also evokes the Fauves, 'primitive' painters who used raw colour straight from the tube. Like The Zoo Father, Petit's acclaimed second collection, this volume has childhood trauma and a dying father at its heart, while Paris takes centre stage – a city savage as the Amazon, haunted by Aramis the black jaguar and a menagerie of wild animals. Transforming childhood horrors to ultimately mourn a lost parent, Fauverie redeems the darker forces of human nature while celebrating the ferocity and grace of endangered species.
"Our winner was chosen because of the un-reproducible bite of the images, her brilliant understanding of human psycho-drama, the sustained accomplishment of her metaphorical imagination." Adam O'Riordan, Chair of judges, Manchester Poetry Prize
Launch readings so far include:
Wymondham Words Festival, Norfolk, Friday evening 19 September 2014
Kings Lynn Poetry Festival, 26 - 28 September 2014
Cheltenham Literature Festival, 4pm Tuesday 7 October 2014
Manchester Literature Festival, Living Worlds Gallery at Museum, Wednesday evening 8 October 2014
Resurgence Festival of Wellbeing Bishopsgate, London, Saturday 11 October 2014
London launch at Yorkshire Grey pub, Chancery Lane, Thursday 16 October 2014
First Thursdays at Chapter Arts, Cardiff, Thursday 6 November, 2014
Dromineer Literary Festival, Tipperary, Ireland, Saturday 3 October, 2015
(More to follow)
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