1. I'm pleased to say there has been a first review of The Necessity of Poetics, by Rupert Loydell, in Tears in the Fence. I suspect, as it is reviewed, and I hope it is reviewed widely (it's provocative enough I think), it will furnish different responses, with differing emphases, and it might look as though the reviewers were reading different books. That's because it's a miscellany rather than a unified volume like The Poetry of Saying or The Meaning of Form. It's also not a straight literary critical volume. Rupert writes from the point of view of a teacher of creative writing who is interested in nurturing poetics as a speculative and anticipatory writerly discourse in his students, who, as Rupert says, have been subjected to two of the pieces collected in the book. Of course, he responds in other ways too. It's a refreshing and personal (or professional) response.
It may be read here: The Necessity of Poetics by Robert Sheppard (Shearsman Books) | Tears in the Fence
2. I'm pleased to say that there is a second review, by Billy Mills, on his blog, Elliptical Movements which gives a sense of the range of the book, whilst bringing it close to the notion of poetics. I see now that it is a particularly difficult book to review since it's so bitty (on purpose). It is 'a rich compendium of his writings on the subject of poetics.' Overwhelmed by that richness, he concludes: 'You need to read the book to get it all. It’s an invigorating read and a salutary reminder that the best writing doesn’t exist to confirm your biases, but to challenge them.'
Billy does track what he calls the 'excellent "Pulse: All a Rhythm", one of the most interesting things on verbal music I’ve read in a long time;' it is gratifying to hear positive feedback on this quite recent piece, and a favourite of mine. 'Memory is another thread that runs through the book,' he notes, sensitive to the retrospective glances at past poetics, and past decades, while the book clearly moves towards the future, poetics being speculative and anticipatory.
Read Billy's review here: Two by Robert Sheppard: A Review – Elliptical Movements
I describe the full contents of the volume here: Pages: The Necessity of Poetics - out now! (robertsheppard.blogspot.com)
It may be purchased here: https://www.shearsman.com/store/Robert-Sheppard-The-Necessity-of-Poetics-p661888958
