The Magicians of Edinburgh: New Poetry

by Ron Butlin

In this sparkling new collection of poems about the city in the 21st century, renowned poet and novelist Ron Butlin draws on his experience as Edinburgh’s Makar, or Poet Laureate. With verve and wit, Butlin leads the reader on a journey through multi-faceted Edinburgh, a place of sweeping vistas and strip bars, grand towers and failed tramlines, world heritage and homelessness. Underlying all these poems, whether satirical or celebratory, is a deep love for the architecture, landscape, and people of Scotland’s capital city.

Genres: Poetry

112 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 2012

About the author

With a reputation as an international prize-winning novelist, Ron Butlin has also been Edinburgh's Poet-Laureate.
Before becoming a writer he was a lyricist with a pop band, a footman attending embassy receptions and weekend house parties, a barnacle-scraper on the Thames and a male model.
He has published almost twenty books including novels, short stories, and poetry as well a novel and an illustrated book of verse for children.
His work has been widely translated and twice been awarded a Best Foreign Novel prize. His most recent novel, Ghost Moon, was nominated for the highly prestigious international IMPAC Award 2016. Ron has 3 new books coming out in 2017. See his Goodreads blog for details.

Reviews

[Sanjuro · Rating 1 out of 5]

I was disappointed, and rather bored, with this collection. Written about Edinburgh, the city in which I currently live and love, by the city's poet Laureate, I was hoping to be drawn into the city I love through someone who knows it even better than I do. Although descriptive, I found the poetry dry, devoid of expressive language. The main problem may have been the descriptions that came with each poem. They essentially ruined each piece; by the time I read the description, which preceded the poem in each instance, the poem seemed a bit pointless. I was unable to get caught up in the images and language of the poems because they came off as simple regurgitations of the description just given. Too much context for a poem keeps it from the ethereal sense it should provide on its own. The descriptions may have had a place as end notes for those interested, but they left me bored.

[Stargazer · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have re-read and re-read the first stanza of the poem the book is named after. It goes like this:

Our Late Medieval cobbled-together city of kirkyards,
cathedrals,
howffs, castles, closes, courts, vennels and wynds,
hay markets, grass markets, flesh markets
managed to hit the twenty-first century
-running!

Edinburgh is truly a beautiful, magical city and Butlin obviously loves it.

[Orla Broderick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Edinburgh is a wonderful city, really truly perfectly captured here by smart, honest observations. I have only read it twice so far, but I know it's one I will pick up and cherish for many many years. The turn of phrase, the lyrics, the images are just perfect.