Safety in Numbers
Reflections on Life and Resilience in Uncertain Times
Format:Paperback
Publisher:Penguin Books Ltd
Published:11th Nov '21
Should be back in stock very soon
This collection by Roger McGough, Safety in Numbers, blends humor and poignancy, capturing the absurdities of contemporary life with wit and insight.
In Safety in Numbers, Roger McGough presents a collection that is both humorous and poignant, reflecting the peculiarities of contemporary life. Through a series of engaging poems, he captures the essence of a world marked by uncertainty and change. The poet's signature wit shines through as he navigates themes of love, loss, and the absurdity of human behavior during trying times. Each piece is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit, inviting readers to find laughter even in the darkest moments.
The collection explores a variety of subjects, from the mundane to the extraordinary. McGough's keen observations reveal the strangeness of our existence, whether it’s through the lens of lockdown experiences or the surreal interactions we share with one another. The poet's ability to blend humor with depth allows for a rich reading experience that resonates on multiple levels. With unexpected voices and perspectives, he challenges readers to reconsider their views on life and relationships.
Ultimately, Safety in Numbers serves as a reminder that while we may face challenges, there is always room for joy and connection. McGough’s work encourages us to embrace the quirks of life and to find solace in shared experiences. His mastery of language and form makes this collection a delightful addition to contemporary poetry, appealing to both seasoned readers and newcomers alike.
Sparky, thoughtful, inventive, and fun, it's also the mix of these qualities that makes this a fantastic collection * Buzz Magazine *
This slim volume is a joy, packed with wry observation, vim and wit that deftly captures the spirit of these strange times we inhabit. Journeying through topical subjects, from rising oceans and adultery in lockdown to seaside staycations and an ode to Laura Kuenssberg, poet Roger McGough has a keen eye for the magical moments within the mundanities of modern life * Herald *
Probably the best-known contemporary poet in the country, Roger McGough still tours his brand of zany takes on British culture . . . Safety in Numbers runs with several themes, including the pandemic, how to write poems and even being a narrator and voice-over artist. . . . [with] a lot of characteristically clever imagery and wordplay, such as in Warning Signs, a list of aphorisms, "Time to hit the road? You stumble, hit the road". * Expert Reviews, Best Poetry Books for 2022 *
McGough is a true original and more than one generation would be much the poorer without him * The Times *
McGough has done for poetry what champagne does for weddings * Time Out *
Memorable and enduring and fresh. Age has not withered [his lines] nor diminished their potency. Of how much modern poetry can you say that? * Sunday Herald, on ‘joinedupwriting’ *
McGough's trademarks: the craft worn as lightly as the crown, the jokes that are something more, the underlying heartache, the acute sense of the way time slips away * Poetry Review, on ‘joinedupwriting’ *
The patron saint of poetry * Carol Ann Duffy *
ISBN: 9780241517352
Dimensions: 198mm x 129mm x 8mm
Weight: 103g
112 pages