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In Issue 27, The Reader tries to be happy, gathering together stories, poetry, essays and recommendations that focus on moments of joy and simple pleasure.
Of particular mention is the poetry by Omar Sabbagh, a young new poet who we are very excited about here at The Reader. He has an almost baroque love of language as well as a definite voice that underpins and assures his poetry. More than anything when you read his poetry you are aware of the solidity and the lightness of life.
We also have poetry by Tom Paulin, R. S. Thomas, Martin Malone, Sean Elliot and Andrew Shields.
We have great short stories from David Constantine and the less well-known Jo Canon, in which the chance of happiness is glitteringly present and real, though hard-won and part of life which may not let it stay.
There are some thrilling essays in this issue. Bernard Beatty writes on 'Ecstatic Moments' and Josie Billington focuses on the unexpected late love of the Barrett Brownings. Neil Corcoran writes on a Frank O'Hara poem, the force and presence of that poet's voice in the middle of a busy day. David Constantine writes with care (and deep attention) on two of D. H. Lawrence's stories.
We are very pleased with a short sequence on R. S. Thomas. Alice Jolly recommends his work (the comforts of the 'comfortless poet') and we reprint one of his last-written poems, originally published in The Reader back in our infancy.
We have new features: Jane Davis starts a new regular column drawing readers' attention to reading in real life. Our spy network has grown bigger with our new column, 'The London Eye', which spills the beans on literary life in London.
There are all the regular features too, alive and fizzling. Helen Tookey writes on her poem 'At Burscough' for the 'Poet on Her Work' series. Frank Cottrell Boyce (Millions) writes a 'Reading Lives' piece together with his son, Aidan. Aidan was in Peru at the time, and father and son are reading to keep close to the other in faraway places. There is a lively discussion on the 'Readers Connect' book, Wilkie Collins's No Name and, of course, another of Brian Nellist's nutty 'Ask the Readers', and marvellous Enid Stubin's 'Our Spy in NY'.
Add to this Bucks Quiz, the Crossword and Good Books and you have a very full issue!