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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.\u00a0 It was an exhilarating and memorable evening. George Szirtes\u2019 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.\u00a0 But, briefly: George Szirtes was born in Budapest in 1948 and came to England in 1956.\u00a0 In 1979 his first book for adults The Slant Door<\/em> was joint winner of the Faber Memorial Prize.\u00a0 Since then he has published thirteen books of poems, including Reel<\/em>, which was awarded the T.S. Eliot prize in 2004, New and Collected Poems<\/em> in 2008 and The Burning Books <\/em>in 2009 (which was shortlisted for the T.S. Eliot prize).\u00a0 He is a translator of all kinds of books from the Hungarian and also an editor of anthologies.\u00a0 He lives in Norfolk.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n In the Land of Giants<\/em> is a wonderful book. \u00a0Buy a copy and see for yourselves.\u00a0 Or just browse through one and then see if you can resist buying it.\u00a0 George\u2019s reading at the launch had both children and adults spellbound.\u00a0 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.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n 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.\u00a0 The opening lines grabbed my throat and I was hooked:\u00a0 The sea lays big glass hands on the sand, \/ spreading its fingers out as if new \/ to the shore.\u00a0 It can\u2019t quite believe in it. \/ It wants to hold on before the glass breaks. <\/em>\u00a0(\u2018The Sea\u2019s Hands\u2019)<\/p>\n <\/p>\n I took my signed copy home and, by the end of the next day, had read it from cover to cover.\u00a0 Let me whet your appetite with a couple more quotes.\u00a0 That perfectly honed image of\u00a0 A biting cold, they say, and those clear \/ crisp little molars gnawing \/ at your ears and temples \u2026<\/em>\u00a0 (\u2018The Cold\u2019s Teeth\u2019) and, a bit nearer to home maybe, See the poet, see the pipe \/ It\u2019s just as well to know the type: \/ His eyes are shifty, his beard shaggy, His corduroys are always baggy, \u2026 By candlelight he sits and poses, \/ And, once in a blue moon, composes.<\/em>\u00a0 (\u2018Poet\u2019)<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The book itself (as one would expect from Salt Publishing) is a delight to look at and to handle.\u00a0 It has a soft, pale grey cover and begs to be picked up and opened.\u00a0 The illustrations by George\u2019s daughter, Helen, are a fine complement.\u00a0 As well as George\u2019s own poems, some translations of other Hungarian writers are also included.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n One sentence on the back cover of the book sums it up perfectly:\u00a0 this generous new selection of children\u2019s poems from one of the UK\u2019s foremost poets displays wit, humour, technical virtuosity and a hint of the absurd.\u00a0 <\/em>On the back cover also is a 7+ symbol.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n With Christmas approaching take that 7+ literally and buy a copy for everyone on your shopping list who\u2019s over 7.\u00a0 And buy one also for anyone under 7 and keep it for them to grow into.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n