I recently went to the Book Hive (a well known book shop in the centre of Norwich) for the first launch of this remarkable book. It was an exhilarating and memorable evening. George Szirtes’ reputation as a poet and translator almost renders any introduction from me superfluous as most readers of this website will already be aware of his work and of his place in the literary landscape of the twentieth century. But, briefly: George Szirtes was born in Budapest in 1948 and came to England in 1956. In 1979 his first book for adults The Slant Door was joint winner of the Faber Memorial Prize. Since then he has published thirteen books of poems, including Reel, which was awarded the T.S. Eliot prize in 2004, New and Collected Poems in 2008 and The Burning Books in 2009 (which was shortlisted for the T.S. Eliot prize). He is a translator of all kinds of books from the Hungarian and also an editor of anthologies. He lives in Norfolk.
In the Land of Giants is a wonderful book. Buy a copy and see for yourselves. Or just browse through one and then see if you can resist buying it. George’s reading at the launch had both children and adults spellbound. Those of you who know him, or have heard him at readings, or even just met him briefly will be unable to read these poems without hearing his distinctive and mesmerizing voice somewhere deep inside your ear.
The copy I picked up from the pile in the book shop fell open at page 19 and I read the poem whilst waiting to pay at the counter. The opening lines grabbed my throat and I was hooked: The sea lays big glass hands on the sand, / spreading its fingers out as if new / to the shore. It can’t quite believe in it. / It wants to hold on before the glass breaks. (‘The Sea’s Hands’)
I took my signed copy home and, by the end of the next day, had read it from cover to cover. Let me whet your appetite with a couple more quotes. That perfectly honed image of A biting cold, they say, and those clear / crisp little molars gnawing / at your ears and temples … (‘The Cold’s Teeth’) and, a bit nearer to home maybe, See the poet, see the pipe / It’s just as well to know the type: / His eyes are shifty, his beard shaggy, His corduroys are always baggy, … By candlelight he sits and poses, / And, once in a blue moon, composes. (‘Poet’)
The book itself (as one would expect from Salt Publishing) is a delight to look at and to handle. It has a soft, pale grey cover and begs to be picked up and opened. The illustrations by George’s daughter, Helen, are a fine complement. As well as George’s own poems, some translations of other Hungarian writers are also included.
One sentence on the back cover of the book sums it up perfectly: this generous new selection of children’s poems from one of the UK’s foremost poets displays wit, humour, technical virtuosity and a hint of the absurd. On the back cover also is a 7+ symbol.
With Christmas approaching take that 7+ literally and buy a copy for everyone on your shopping list who’s over 7. And buy one also for anyone under 7 and keep it for them to grow into.
In the Land of the Giants is illustrated by Helen Szirtes and published by Salt Publishing. 2012, paperback: £6.99 84pp. Order your copy here