Rosemary Tonks was a feted poet, trenchant reviewer and literary socialite. And then she 'disappeared'. Following her death last month, Neil Astley traces her extraordinary storyThe "disappearance" of the poet Rosemary Tonks in the 1970s was one of the literary world's most tantalising mysteries. Bizarre theories abounded as to her whereabouts if she was still alive. As the poet Brian Patten put it in a BBC radio feature about her in 2009, she "evaporated into air like the Cheshire cat". One contributor imagined her living in Cuba, "smoking cigars in a doorway". Other commentators over the years have made her into a nun; consigned her to a sect; had her communing with the ghost of Charles Baudelaire; or put her in a shed at the bottom of someone's garden. For some reason, these mythmakers always required her to be living in poverty.Having tried to visit her myself, 10 years ago, I knew all these theories to be far from the truth. But out of respect for her declared wish, maintained by her family, that she should be left in peace, I kept her address and situation secret. Tonks died last month at the age of 85 (all the existing records had her as four years younger). She had indeed been living as a near-recluse but out of choice, quite comfortable in her circumstances. Even so, she remained restless in spirit, defiantly independent and quite alone in her continuing search for God, for she was ever alert to the "brainwashing", manipulative tendencies in the religious... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'
[ The Guardian | 2014-05-31 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Wonderbly, the publisher of the personalised Lost My Name books, is partnering with animation studio Sixteen South and Walker’s Helen McAleer to create a TV series. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2018-06-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
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“It’s not a memoir, it’s an imaginary me,” said the poet Lawrence Ferlinghetti of his novel, which Doubleday will publish next spring. Continue reading at The New York Times
[ The New York Times | 2018-06-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The shortlist for the 2018 Forward Prize for Best Collection (£10,000) includes US poet laureate Tracy K Smith and Vahni Capildeo, who won the same prize in 2016. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2018-05-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The prosperity that some in the Russian book industry thought was rising this year may be headed in the other direction, if the expected rise in book VAT becomes a reality. The post Russian Publishers Warn of Lost Profits Amid a Newly Announced VAT Hike appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives
[ Publishing Perspectives | 2018-05-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Somerset-based poetry publisher Burning Eye Books is on the hunt for three BAME poets for its 2019 list. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2018-05-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
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English PEN is celebrating the centenary of Nelson Mandela’s birth by holding an evening of readings with writers and creatives including Ted Hughes Award-winner Jay Bernard and Makar Jackie Kay. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2018-05-10 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Poet Amy K Blakemore has accused Penguin's poetry editor Donald Futers of "assault" and criticised his employer Penguin Random House of inaction over the incident. However, Futers, who is still employed by PRH, vehemently denies the claims. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2018-05-10 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The Ucross Foundation, best known for its 20,000-acre artists' retreat ranch in Wyoming, honors Proulx. And Wattpad expands another its screen presence with a new film option from Sony Pictures Television. The post Industry Notes: Ucross Foundation Honors Annie Proulx, Sony Options Katarina... Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives
[ Publishing Perspectives | 2018-05-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Pamphlet publisher Stewed Rhubarb is set to reissue two poetry collections previously taken out of print following the collapse of Scottish press Freight Books late last year. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2018-04-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The London Book Fair introduces a fair illustrator and a fair poet in April, for special recognition and appearances. And tranlsation press Tilted Axis forms a partnership for rights in Australia, New Zealand. The post London Book Fair Names Poet, Illustrator; Tilted Axis Has Australian Partner... Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives
[ Publishing Perspectives | 2018-03-23 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The Brontë Society is marking its debut as a publisher with a title featuring two unpublished manuscripts by Charlotte Brontë, found in a book belonging to her mother. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2018-03-23 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Penguin Random House Children’s has acquired a YA thriller from debut writer and poet Savannah Brown. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2018-03-09 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Heidi Perks’ psychological suspense novel has been optioned for television by the production company responsible for “The Miniaturist”. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2018-01-23 00:00:00 UTC ]
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I’m not surprised sales of literary fiction are in decline – too many authors fail to engage their readers with any sort of story• Tim Lott is an author and journalistFollowing the announcement from Arts Council England that sales of literary fiction are plummeting, it is suggested that arts... Continue reading at The Guardian
[ The Guardian | 2018-01-01 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Corsair has signed three "significant" collections from the Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Mary Oliver. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2017-12-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The breakout publishing start-up Wonderbly has rebranded after five years - but its ethos remains. Philip Jones talks to one of its founders, Asi Sharabi. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2017-11-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
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A planned voyage from Hawaii to Tahiti aboard a small sailboat didn't start off well for two Honolulu women. One of their cellphones washed overboard and sank into the deep blue water on their first day at sea. From there, things got worse. Much worse. About a month into their trip, bad weather... Continue reading at Los Angeles Times
[ Los Angeles Times | 2017-10-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The writer discovered that his ‘perfect novella’ was all in his mind. It’s a story that is somehow fitting for the times in which we liveIt’s been a busy few days in the literary world, what with the release of this year’s Man Booker shortlist following the recent longlist announcement for its... Continue reading at The Guardian
[ The Guardian | 2017-09-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Independent poetry publisher Carcanet Press has paid tribute to poet John Ashbery who has died aged 90. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2017-09-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
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After hovering in the top five for the previous fortnight, Ruth Hogan's The Keeper of Lost Things has vaulted four spots to claim her first pole position on the Weekly E-Book Ranking. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2017-09-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
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