A Finger in the Fishes Mouth

by Derek Jarman

To mark the 20th anniversary of Derek Jarman's death, Test Centre has produced a facsimile edition of his sole, early, extremely rare poetry book A Finger in the Fishes Mouth, originally published in 1972.

Heavily illustrated from Jarman's collection of postcards, the book combines text and visual imagery in a way which foreshadows his subsequent style as an artist and filmmaker. With the majority of the first edition having been destroyed by Jarman, this new edition makes available a missing, significant piece of his oeuvre.

The facsimile retains the book's original format, with a silver mirror cover, and an image accompanying each poem, printed in a striking green ink. Additional material comes in the form of a new Foreword and Afterwords by Sophie Mayer, Tony Peake and Keith Collins.

A Finger in the Fishes Mouth is the only book being published as part of Jarman 2014, a year-long season of events to celebrate Jarman's life and work. Limited to 700 copies.

Genres: Poetry

148 pages, Paperback

First published February 19, 2014

About the author

Derek Jarman was an English film director, stage designer, artist, and writer.

Reviews

[Christopher Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

May you ALL ,my loyal GR followers ,be the 1st to rejoice with me,to say ,that in one of my many to be lived lifetimes, I & Derek Jarman will become one , our souls become one for all eternity ❤️

[Andrew H · Rating 1 out of 5]

Derek Jarman's star is in the ascendant: a Manchester retrospective a few years ago created a new audience and his infamous tar paintings are currently on show in London. Inevitably, the desire for all things Jarman has revived his poetry. Jarman had nothing good to say about his early poetry and it is a pity that his critical view was not heeded. There is nothing worth reading in A Finger in the Fishes Mouth. The poems are not even lifted by being presented as they originally were, with gaudy green and blue photographs, and a glittering silver cover. The best thing to do with this volume is what any angler would do: catch it, look it, and toss it back into the pond.

[antónio · Rating 4 out of 5]

hbd derek jarman

[cy]

i like that i didn’t rly like these poems — this makes them special in a way, and makes his films/garden/journals more special too

[Elina · Rating 5 out of 5]

🤍

[Ocean Chamberlain · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Angel of History will watch over Derek Jarman kindly.

[Matt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Most beautiful physical book I own, surprisingly lovely work

[fr3f4ng · Rating 4 out of 5]

fucking insane i love him

[Léo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Très content.e d avoir une copie de ce livre