Zero

by Brian McCabe

Brian McCabe's fourth poetry collection is an inventive exploration of the world of numbers. With playfulness and poise, McCabe brings mathematics to life through a range of a newsreader reports on the government’s introduction of the new number throur, a mafia boss invents Roman numerals, a fisherman gives his sardonic take on Pythagoras, and a monkey sheds light on the Golden Mean. Re-imaginings of the lives of mathematicians such as Riemann, Moebius and Napier sit alongside witty and thought-provoking interpretations of eleven is a pre-teen sulking in his room, while twin primes are portrayed as detained refugees under interrogation. Appealing to readers of poetry and number-lovers alike, Zero is a compelling and bravura performance from a poet at the height of his powers.

Genres: Poetry

80 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 2009

About the author

Brian McCabe is a Scottish writer, tutor and editor, best known for his fine short stories and quirky poetry. Born in 1951, McCabe grew up near Edinburgh in a mining community. He studied Literature and Philosophy at the University of Edinburgh, where he encountered other young writers such as Ron Butlin and Andrew Greig and was influenced by older Edinburgh poets such as Norman MacCaig and Robert Garioch. Along with Greig, Butlin and Liz Lochhead, McCabe was one of 'The Lost Poets', a rough collective which organised readings and other events in central Scotland in the early 1970s.

Reviews

[Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant poems. Very clever and many are very funny.