VIRGINIA ASTLEY The English River... A journey down the Thames in poems & photographs Header Photo: Detail from front cover. Image © Virginia Astley. Buy Item | Item DetailsDavid Sylvian & Related Rarities | Sylvian CD :: Vinyl :: Memorabilia Price Guide ~ Nov. 16 Sylvian Biography | Releases Gallery | Photo Gallery Search Site BOOK All images © Various. We are based in South London near Croydon and if preferred this item can be picked up by appointment. Just e-mail here. All titles on these pages are official releases unless stated. Item Specifications: Item Description: I have been fascinated by Astley and her ethereal vocals since way back when in the mid-1980s she did that achingly beautiful, Sakamoto drenched duet with Sylvian, Some Small Hope (he did his vocals in a couple of hours at a studio somewhere in the centre of London I discovered today). Thereafter there were a few albums, wistful but fleeting, and then in the 90s she seemed to vanish without a trace. When I say 'vanish, I mean she re-entered 'normal' life. Had a child, wrote poetry, and the years rolled by. Until now, here on the riverbank. The River Thames and all its glory. The Official Blurb: Virginia Astley has been a much admired songwriter and musician since the 1980s, known for her engaging lyrics as well as for her melodious style. Now her other two passions take centre stage in this book: poetry and the River Thames. She grew up by the river's upper reaches, knew the old lock-keepers and was familiar with all aspects of the Thames and its hinterland: both the natural world and the people whose lives are intimately connected with the river. In recent years, she has returned to the Thames, working for a summer as an assistant lock-keeper, and walking its length to record and respond to its landscapes, river life and river folk as a poet and photographer. Her pamphlet The Curative Harp won Ireland's Fool for Poetry chapbook competition in 2015 and was published by Southword. The English River is her first book-length poetry collection, showing many new sides to this multi-talented artist: as poet, nature writer, storyteller and photographer. The foreword is by Pete Townshend. 'Virginia's story is about the river and the people who work on it, especially those who man the locks. She captures a view of the upper reaches of the River Thames that is entirely fresh. There are glimpsed moments of the claustrophobic beauty of the wooded parts that contrast with the open expanses of uplifting countryside where the river meanders through woodland and farmland. Focussing on the professionals who work on the river, and who manage the locks and the flood plains around them, Virginia suggests - as she works as a lock-keeper's assistant - that they become almost addicted to the peace and beauty of their place of work. She herself becomes enchanted, that is certain. She makes herself vulnerable in the most romantic way, working and writing and evoking everything she sees and feels as both a storyteller and poet, and as photographer.' - Pete Townshend, musician.
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2019: In stock. New but not sealed. None of them came sealed. Slight shelfwear in places. Payment can also be made to Lenin Imports by cheque, po, money order, cash by registered mail. Or bank transfer. Please e-mail here (ihuppert5@aol.com) to request bank details. Please enclose title of item ordering and return address when ordering via cheque. Address: Lenin Imports E-mail (ihuppert5@aol.com) if you request bank details for a bank transfer. Price: £24.99 (UK Sterling) (Worldwide Air Mail Postage Inclusive). Insured air mail would be £6.00 extra. E-mail (ihuppert5@aol.com) if you would like insured air mail to be added. 2018: 1 in stock. Mint. Payment can also be made to Lenin Imports by cheque, po, money order, international money order, cash by registered mail. Or bank transfer. Please e-mail here (ihuppert5@aol.com) to request bank details. Please enclose title of item ordering and return address when ordering via cheque. Address: Lenin Imports E-mail (ihuppert5@aol.com) if you request bank details for a bank transfer. The English River: a journey down the Thames in poems & photographs ~ Book (2018) (UK) David Sylvian & Related Rarities Sylvian CD :: Vinyl :: Memorabilia Price Guide ~ Nov. 16 Sylvian Biography Releases Gallery Search Site Top of Page |
