4 Against the Wall

by Sam Mills, Robert Rentschler, Zachary Jean Chartkoff

Four poets, four voices. 4 Against the Wall is a collection of poems from four poets living in Lansing, Michigan, but their voices speak well past the city boundaries. Their work, both together and separately, spans several decades in a city that is simultaneously factory town, university town, state capitol-and, over the years, both a hothouse and sanctuary for poetry. This unique collection showcases not only the recent work of Zachary Chartkoff, Sam Mills, Robert Rentschler and Ruelaine Stokes, but also a spirited round table discussion of the state of poetry-and oft-times remarkable poetry scene in Lansing-that they have witnessed over three decades. The poems in this book have delighted audiences for years. This is the first time they have appeared together in print. Foreword by poet F. Richard Thomas, author of Death at Camp Pahoka (MSU Press) and Frog Praises Night (SIU Press). Photographs by Roxanne Firth.

125 pages, Paperback

First published October 21, 2005

About the author

Samantha Mills
Sam Mills was born in 1975. After graduating from Lincoln College, Oxford University, she worked briefly as a chess journalist and publicist before becoming a full-time writer. She has contributed short stories to literary magazines such as Tomazi and 3am and written articles for the Guardian, The Weeklings and The Independent.

She is the author of 3 young adult novels, published by Faber, including The Boys Who Saved the World, which is currently being adapted for film and the award-winning Blackout. Her debut novel for adults, The Quiddity of Will Self (Corsair) was described by The Sunday Times as “an ingenious, energetic read” and the Guardian as “an extraordinary novel of orgiastic obsession.” Sam is one of the founding members of the Will Self Club.