The Handless Maiden

by Vicki Feaver

The poems in this extraordinary book deal in familiar emotions—love, grief, rage, and loneliness—but do so with such a fresh and fierce eye, such lived intensity, that the familiar is given again the force to touch our nerves, to seem raw and new. Some of the poems are based in the territory of home and childhood, others move into that unnerving space where the safe and polite world plunges over a ledge—into anarchic revisions of what is possible or acceptable. They treat myths and fairy stories, or even paintings, not as fictions but as part of our continuing experience. Powerful and sensuous, wry and witty, their clear voice stays in the provoking, questioning, refusing to accept the soft lie. These disturbing and passionate poems demand to be read.

Genres: Poetry

56 pages, Paperback

First published March 27, 1994

Reviews

[Teresa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this over a somewhat lengthy period of time, so I’m finding it hard to review (besides always finding poetry hard to review). It's a wonderful collection, topics ranging from folk/fairy-tales (the title poem and “Beauty and the Beast”) to the connection between strong Biblical women and oneself (“Judith” and “Esther”) to mundane tasks (“Ironing”) to art (“Lovers”), and even more. Feaver’s fearlessness and her unique twist on the so-called domestic sphere are appealing. I’ll reread this one day.

*

I bought my copy online, from the U.K., and I believe it’s signed by the author (first name only) "to John & [?]/with love.”

[Rosamund Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

A visceral, accomplished, and highly original collection. Published in 1994, these poems are fresh and imaginative, and leap from the page, grabbing your attention as they cover themes of autonomy, intimacy and women through history. They're often very witty. Vicki Feaver is hugely talented, and I'll be seeking more of her work.

[Kimberly Lojewski · Rating 5 out of 5]

Decades ago, someone gave me a photocopied paper with the title poem from this collection. I loved it so much that I hung it on the wall of every house I lived in for many years afterwards. I found it again a while back, and that prompted me to finally search out the book on Amazon. I'm not great at writing poetry reviews, but this collection is as magical, and dark, and haunting as the single poem that I have dragged along with me for half of my life. Lots of feminist and fairy tale themes that resonate with me still. It's just beautiful. I love it.

[Pamster · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't ever read poetry, but many of these were awesome. Fairy tale themes. I get crazy about the stars, do I wanna go five stars? Maybe.

[Emma Filtness · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting collection of feminist poems. I particularly enjoyed the title poem that explores a Russian folk-story, but that cleverly begins at the end of the tale and works backwards. Some striking imagery throughout the collection - "the wasp that clung like a brooch" sticks with me - and a knack at getting right at the violence and shadow underpinning the domestic sphere. Feaver does not shy away from any topic, and it is refreshing to see a poet directly address menstruation, resentment and more. I will definitely be reading her more recent collection soon.

[Rebecca Fell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m pretty speechless/still processing the beauty of this collection so a better review will be written at a later date once I have gone through the collection again armed with a pen. All I can say is that the narcissist in me feels like this collection was written for me, combining everything I love to read about and question in one viscerally rich collection of gorgeous poetry.

[Conor Wallace · Rating 5 out of 5]

some of my favourite poetry I’ve read, I was a little hesitant at the start but ended up reading the final 2/3 of the collection in one go, quite accessible poetry in terms of the simplistic writing style but I really loved the imagery and the themes whether Feaver was referencing Van Gogh or greek myth or just getting gin-drunk in a garden
I stand by what I said: when Dr Katherine Bone recommends you poetry, you read it!

[Katherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reread, always excellent.

[Sandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

This contains 'Judith' which blew my breath away and introduced me to Vicki Feaver's poetry.

As with 'The book of blood' I kept it in the bathroom and read a poem every time I went to the loo. (Sometime so absorbed with what I read I forgot what I was therefor.)

Such beautiful word choices. Such visceral kicks.

Same again, some needing reading three or four times before I can move on to the next. Such heart-stopping power.