iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Really pleased to see this review in, of all places, The Idler, from Ned Green...

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That's very gracious. I hope the book continues to do well.

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I am sorry. Jason is of course right, and I was wrong - the pdf reader I was using counted some instances twice. It has been corrected online, and I can only apologize - an embarrassing error.

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Graeme Richardson @ravoon.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

The shortlist for this year's TS Eliot prize:

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Congratulations, Dan - and a great title!

Graeme Richardson @ravoon.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

"An extraordinary legacy of love" - beautifully put. How wonderful! I'll be thinking of you.

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Graeme Richardson @ravoon.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

My heart goes out to you, Sarah: I'm really sorry to hear about your loss, and I hope it hasn't overwhelmed you.

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Graeme Richardson @ravoon.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

Herbert one of the great 20th Century Apologists - such a brilliant thinker and writer and a funny man.

Graeme Richardson @ravoon.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

Always good to see GG quoted...

I'd be interested to know what you think of Rhapsody when you've read it... she's such a brilliantly imaginative and empathetic poet, and attempting a coherent argument in prose just doesn't play to those strengths.

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Peri-Peri Predilections was my favourite of the late pamphlets

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I'm very sympathetic to saying "it's difficult, but it's rewarding" about high culture (it's also what I would say to an atheist). But I wouldn't want to say difficulty is the key to poetry - so much of the best poetry is simple joy. And yes, Denise really does have a point...

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You're spot on, Jon - I took a lot more words to get there...

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You know, Jeremy Prynne once said something very similar to me in Nandos (really). And thanks - I'm well! Awful but cheerful.

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Ha - I think, as this shows, you have a bit more of a sense of humour about the whole caboodle, Rachel. How's "retirement"? I have been thinking of you.

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I think, as with a lot of poetry publishing, the "no-one buys it" issue is in a loop with the "no-one edits it" issue.

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Yes. I find it difficult to imagine what sort of role an editor has played in books like these. Perhaps some people are too big to edit; or perhaps (as I often suspect) "it's poetry, so it doesn't matter, wave it through".

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I don't think you're wrong - although I would choose different examples...

Peter McDonald @pmcdthisandthat.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

Reposted by Graeme Richardson

One of the many gems of Dublin folklore about Yeats, recorded by Richard Ellmann in 1946.

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Graeme Richardson @ravoon.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

I'm enjoying the miniatures of "Red River Valley", the latest from @imcmillan.bsky.social - very good on memory and shining moments. This reminds me of Causley's "Eden Rock".

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Graeme Richardson @ravoon.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

Also good. Let's hope all this can be resolved without blind, ugly violence.

Graeme Richardson @ravoon.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

I see your own book pushed back and neglected between Wayne Price and Vincent Buckley

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Graeme Richardson @ravoon.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

Looks lovely, Ian: congratulations! Thanks to you I've had this as an Ohrwurm for weeks - remembering the red river valley and the maiden who loved you so true...

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Graeme Richardson @ravoon.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

I don't think it will be Oxbridge anymore. And is anyone really a "big beast" in publishing these days? But yes, it will be insiders and an in-crowd.

Graeme Richardson @ravoon.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

I almost fell asleep before the end, but the argument appears to be that, because a Hollywood Blockbuster can boost sales of a great classic, a scheme like "New Generation Poets" can boost sales of new poetry books. I think poets should be better than this at finding two things that are alike...

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Reposted by Graeme Richardson

Martin Doyle @martindoyle.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

John McGahern taking no prisoners. From John McGahern: A Writing Life by Frank Shovlin

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Graeme Richardson @ravoon.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

Two really good young poets. I'm going - please join me!

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Graeme Richardson @ravoon.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

Many happy returns of it, RIchard. And thanks for being entertaining on here.

Graeme Richardson @ravoon.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

Maturity is not quoting this passage in a review with the comment "That's a lot of old Bauls"

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Graeme Richardson @ravoon.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

You say that, but what about all the other people with birthdays and no access to coffee in a nice red cup? Your sort make me sick. (Am I doing this Bluesky thing right?)

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Graeme Richardson @ravoon.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

Always an interesting exercise to work out whether I agree with JN-T's choices - have a read and subscribe -

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Graeme Richardson @ravoon.bsky.social · 12/09/2026

Thanks, Ira - really interesting. The clarity of his vision for what writing could be, and his confidence in it - so Yeats and Eliot and many others followed him - fascinates me.

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Hahaha no. I do my own scrapping. I'm just reviewing it. I may not even mention it. But it's odd it wasn't noticed...

In this respect I feel I can tell Denise Riley what it's like to be a poet without a public persona (not quite as beneficial as she thinks)

I have. Not much clippable praise, but very perceptive, I thought. I was pleased with it. Being overseas and unable to do events, readings etc I am very grateful for reviews!

Where can I read something about this, David? It might interest Weimar chums.

Thanks, Ira. Yes, it didn't sound right to me, which is why I wanted to check. It's from the Faber book "On Difficulty (and Poetry)" by Lavinia Greenlaw, the Faber Poetry Editor.

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