A Place To Go On From Collected Poems of Iain Lonie

Discover the profound beauty and literary significance of 'A Place To Go On From: Collected Poems of Iain Lonie'. This meticulously curated hardback collection showcases the poignant works of Dunedin poet Iain Lonie, who, though his life was tragically cut short in 1988, left behind a remarkable legacy of poetry. A Cambridge scholar and noted medical historian, Lonie's contributions to New Zealand poetry were often overshadowed, but this collection aims to illuminate his extraordinary talent. Published by Otago University Press, this 392-page volume features not only Lonie's previously published poems but also over one hundred unpublished works that offer fresh insights into his world of desire, grief, and existential reflection. His poignant explorations of mortality, particularly stemming from his personal experiences, resonate deeply with readers, making this collection a valuable resource for anyone interested in New Zealand literature. Included are two enlightening essays and extensive commentary that provide context and depth to Lonie's craft. Ideal for poetry enthusiasts and scholars alike, 'A Place To Go On From' serves as both an homage and a revitalization of a truly unique voice within New Zealand's literary landscape. Immerse yourself in Iain Lonie’s exquisite elegiac poetry and discover why his work inspires younger poets as a source of creative influence and reflection.

Author: David Howard Ed. Publisher: Otago University Press
Bind: hardback
Dimensions: 140 x 210 mm
Pages: 392
Publication Date: 20-05-2015

Dunedin poet Iain Lonie (1932-1988), a Cambridge scholar who enjoyed an international reputation as a medical historian, died before his poetry was fully appreciated. He published five slim volumes but his style was not the one that dominated New Zealand poetry at the time. And yet, argues Damian Love in an essay in this volume, ‘To read him now is, for most of us, practically to discover a new resource.’ This collection, assembled from sources public and private, is the result of poet David Howard’s determination to rescue a memorable body of work from oblivion. As well as the poems from Lonie’s published volumes, it includes over a hundred unpublished works, two essays and an extensive commentary. While his keen interest in mortality was focused by the premature death of his wife Judith (aged 46), Lonie’s poetry is also an attempt to recover the loved in us all. As he eavesdrops on desire and grief he reports back, often wittily, leaving the most poised body of elegiac poetry New Zealand has. For younger poets, Iain Lonie’s poetry has become ‘a place to go on from’