Eirenikon

Bantock Gavin

Gavin Bantock's challenging new poem is written in the form of an Euclidean theorem. It sets forth a proposition, often in a sharply satirical and polemic vein, for world peace.

Mr Bantock is "not afraid to think big, to stick out his neck, and to write of man's fragile vanity", as Kevin Crossley-Holland wrote of "Juggernaut". In "Eirenikon" his account of mankind's pollution both of the world and himself, is violent and disturbing; but it is finally a humanistic poem written for love of man – with vigour, humour, irony and a striking originality of style and method.

About the Author

Gavin Bantock, born in England in 1939, wrote his long poem "Christ" (1965) while at New College, Oxford. It won the Richard Hillary Award for 1964 and the Poetry Society's Award in 1966. Since 1969, when he received an Eric Gregory Award, he has lived in Japan, where he taught English and drama at Reitaku University. He was awarded third prize in the 1998 Arvon Foundation International Poetry Competition. His books include "A New Thing Breathing" (1969), "Anhaga" (Anglo-Saxon translations, 1972), "Eirenikon" (1972), "Dragons" (1979), "Just Think of It" (2002) and "SeaManShip" (2003).

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