Dead Redhead

by Tracey Herd

Dead Redhead is a Book of the Dead in which the women have the starring roles, from Ophelia and Marilyn to girl detective Nancy Drew. The heroines celebrated in Tracey Herd’s dramatically powerful poems are all hunted or haunted by people or powers beyond their control. And so they die at the hands of serial killers and revolutionaries, or ravaged by murderous fame, or they take their own lives. But all are vibrant, defiant women who give themselves to life, only to be betrayed by those they believe as well as by their own dreams. Poetry Book Society Recommendation.

Genres: Poetry

78 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 2001

About the author

Tracey Herd was born in East Kilbride in 1968 and now lives in Dundee. She studied English and American Studies at the University of Dundee, graduating in 1991. From 1998-2001, she was Creative Writing Fellow at the University of Dundee.

She won an Eric Gregory Award in 1993, and in 1995 was awarded a Scottish Arts Council Bursary. Her first collection, No Hiding Place (Bloodaxe, 1996) was shortlisted for the Forward Poetry Prize for Best First Collection, and her second collection, Dead Redhead (2001) was a Poetry Book Society Recommendation. The Single Girl was published by Bloodaxe in 2007. Her poems were included in Identity Parade: new British & Irish poets (Bloodaxe).

(from http://www.scottishpoetrylibrary.org....)

Reviews

[Kat · Rating 5 out of 5]

I couldn't put this book doun I was grabbed into the characters then the mystery carried away by the plot. It's a high octane charged read full of passion and compassion lies and secrets to be exposed.You'll be completely captivated through out right up to the climatic conclusion. Acquire " Dead Redhead " for hours of entertainment. Kat

[Steven Felicelli · Rating 3 out of 5]

Green River killer sequence depicting womanhood as vulnerable/dismal/subjugated was extremely powerful - lost me with equine imagery

[Jonathan Currinn (Good Star Vibes) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amazing imagery throughout, I truly believe Tracey Herd is a poet that needs to be read. She's great at pulling concepts and giving the reader rich poetry.

This collated book of poetry really makes you imagine the characters and what they are going through. Some of the poetry is deep and dark and is prominent in the wake of the #MeToo campaign, whilst others show the brightness from the characters regardless of what they're going through.

Tracey Herd is definitely a poet I need to read more from!