Submitted by Administrator on Mon, 08/12/2014 - 11:09
The voice of the poetic establishment, the Poetry Book Society Bulletin, has made Professor James Russell's latest book a 'winter selection', saying of it:
"A True-Dream Run (published by the Knives, Forks & Spoons Press), James Russell's sixth book of poetry, delights in telling stories. The title poem invokes Lucretius and speaks of "the organic rot, the sag and crack of things/constructed not with you in mind", which sets the tone of the whole collection as being disgruntled with "the nature of things." Indeed the stories have a sense of unreality to them, and we move through this linguistically accomplished collection on A True-Dream Run of our own."
The Poetry Book Society was established by T.S. Eliot in 1953 ‘to propagate the art of poetry’. It showcases the very best in contemporary poetry, with reviews and information.
A True-Dream Run was published in May 2014. Reviewing the book, Poet Lee Harwood wrote, "The essential need to be told a story stays with us from the early years right into old age. In A True-Dream Run James Russell does this, tells us stories that matter. He talks to us with all the wavering and double-takes, hesitancy and swagger, natural to all conversations between us humans. All this and his eye for vivid telling details mark James Russell as a true story teller, and a true poet".
James Russell is Professor of Cognitive Development in the Department, and he leads the Cambridge Developing Cognition Laboratory.