Fatal Women

by Kevin Roberts

Book by Kevin Nicholas Roberts

Paperback

Reviews

[D.M. Banlocke · Rating 5 out of 5]

One review of this remarkable collection, here on Goodreads? A favourable one, unsurprisingly... but still. Let me add another. Kevin Nicholas Roberts was a talented American poet who went unencumbered by certain curious literary hang-ups noticeably besetting many of the formal poets of our day. His linguistic facility and formal poetic accomplishments rivalled - at times, easily - those of Swinburne. I had not the honour of being personally acquainted with him, but I know enough to say that he was, of the two, the finer man. Having chosen to master rather than disdain the traditional poet's art, he erected his monument more lasting than bronze, "Fatal Women", in 2000. Here was unapologetic excellence, the music and the wine of poetry. The quality of one or two poems, by chance encountered, persuaded me I should obtain a copy, to read such pieces as "Allayne" and his continuation of Colerdge's "Xanadu". This was in 2004. Since then there have occasionally been rumours of a second volume in preparation. Roberts was editorially and critically employed, but died tragically in 2008. Take the trouble of seeking out this volume, as a tribute to this very deserving poet, and to please yourself.

[Kimberly]

This is some of the most brutal poetry I've ever read...and that's what makes it all the more beautiful.