The value of Theseus is as much about its pedigree as the writing itself. The collaboration for this new book began in the autumn of 1966. bpNichol and Wayne Clifford had worked together early in their literary careers; in fact, Clifford had been the editor of Nichol's first trade book, published with The Coach House Press. To begin, Nichol had also wanted to include two West Coast poets in the writing process. This didn't work out, so Nichol and Clifford rewrote a section to produce Part One of the present text. Part Two was composed over many years of revisiting and revising. These long gestation periods allowed the writers the space and time to re/consider, knowing the text would always be there to augment. After Nichol's death, Clifford completed the work, adding Part Three - composed of elements of Nichol's Martyrology - as a means of tribute, eulogy, acceptance and lie. Thematically, the text focuses on the Theseus-Ariadne-Minotaur cycle: in Part One, the authors were young enough to re=verb=erate when struck with the myth; Part Two allowed Nichol and Clifford the space to step back in order to devise a way to say love more acutely; finally, Part Three presents a stunning example of one man's grief for a lost friend and collaborator. All told, Theseus is an important text that adds considerable gravitas to Nichol's poetic legacy, and the unique partnership between the two authors allows Nichol's words to be extended beyond the grave.
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Product Details
Weight: 150g
Dimensions: 152 x 203mm
Publication Date: 15 Apr 2014
Publisher: Book*hug
Publication City/Country: Canada
Language: English
ISBN13: 9781771660365
About bp NicholWayne Clifford
bpNICHOL (Barrie Phillip Nichol) was born September 30 1944 in Vancouver British Columbia. His writing is by definition engaged with what he called 'borderblur': in his lifetime he wrote (somewhere between) poetry novels short fiction children's books musical scores comic book art collage/assemblage and computer texts. In the mid-1980s bpNichol became a successful writer for the children's television show Fraggle Rock. His early work in sound was documented in Michael Ondaatje's film Sons of Captain Poetry. A second film has been made on Nichol bp: pushing the boundaries directed by Brian Nash. bpNichol died in Toronto Ontario on September 25 1988. WAYNE CLIFFORD came to Grand Manan New Brunswick as a permanent resident in 2007 after thirty-five years of college teaching. A former resident of Kingston Ontario and Halifax Nova Scotia he and his wife M.J. Edwards have built a house at Rocky Corner on the Whistle Road where she practices as an artist and he writes more or less full-time. Author of more than a dozen poetry books and chapbooks Wayne is also an amateur musician artist and award-winning designer. He holds a BA from the University of Toronto and an MA and MFA from the prestigious international Writers' Workshop at The University of Iowa but appreciates that his adopted home has much to teach him.