’Best book of poems this year . . . get it, get it!’ THE OBSERVER on Weathering
’Scotland's greatest linguistic stylist and literary exile since Robert Louis Stevenson,’ - Sunday Herald
Now 82 years old, Alastair Reid is one of Scotland’s foremost literary figures but his work is currently out of print in the UK (most recent publication is Canongate’s Oases from 1997, but it represented only a fraction of his work). The bulk of his poetry has long been unavailable, so this wide-ranging new collection of poetry, translations and thoughts on the art of translation will present a fresh and comprehensive overview of his achievements and will appeal to existing fans and new readers.
Immediately recognised as a major poet, he was published widely in the New Yorker and elsewhere from the 1950s, with poems such as ’Scotland’ and ’The Academy’ becoming iconic. Friend and confidant of some of the giants of 20th-century literature, he has written about Robert Graves, Gabriel Garcia Marquez, Cabrera Infante and Mario Vargas Llosa. This edition includes his brilliant translations of poems by Pablo Neruda, Jorge Luis Borges and other important South American poets, as well as reflections – never bettered – on the art of translation.
Alastair Reid was born in Whithorn in 1926. After serving in the navy, he studied at St Andrews University and since then has lived in America, France, Spain, Switzerland, the Caribbean, and Central and South America. He contributed over 150 pieces to the New Yorker magazine in 1951 and joined its staff, eventually becoming South American Editor. He has published over 40 books in many languages, including essays, poetry, sports writing, children’s books and translations of some of the world’s most distinguished poets and literary figures.
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