Vespers

by Manolis, Ken Kirkby (Illustrator)

Vespers honours the people of the Far North and their harsh yet inherently poetic and colourful surroundings. Manolis' poems and Ken Kirkby's paintings uncover deep values and symbols within the remote and breathtaking Arctic landscape. They render intimate scenes that simultaneously appear starkly apparent and profoundly layered. The exquisite techniques of both poet and artist help project their the pristine and wild esthetic while illuminating the cultural experience in its essence. Vespers is a stunning collection that takes one away from the warmth and comfort of domestic life and throws one into the Canadian wilderness. Ken Kirby's paintings offer a perfect complement to Manolis' words. Together they have created an artistic gift that allows the reader to experience the vastness of this country. The harshness of the Canadian north is juxtaposed with the raw beauty in that space, where linear time is forgotten and the circle of nature rules. Surely this is a beautiful collection that weaves the visual and poetic to tell the story of the emotional extremes of life in the far north."

142 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 2, 2025

About the author

Manolis (full name Manolis Aligizakis) was born in Kolibari on the Greek island of Crete in 1947. After studying Political Science at Panteion University of Athens he emigrated to Canada in 1973.
He has published three novels and numerous collections of poetry in Greek and in English.
He is the founder of Libros Libertad, an independent publishing company in Canada.