The penguin book of irish verse by brendan kennelly and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Brendan kennelly in order to determine how they cluster into categories defined by. Brendan kennellys book of judas, a 400page epic poem in twelve parts, became the number one bestselling book in ireland. Whats amazing about the book aside from the poetry itself, which is wow is that kennelly essentially claims judas for ireland. He continued to worm his way into kennelly s imagination long after the original book was finished, and the little book of judas includes some. Until the end of the world is my favorite song on my favorite u2 album, so i wanted to check out this book. The book of judas by brendan kennelly brendan kennelly s book of judas, a 400page epic poem in twelve parts, became the number one bestselling book in ireland. We do find some support which we document below of our claim that. Brendan kennelly chapter 19 the cambridge companion to irish.
Brendan kennelly was born in ballylongford, co kerry, on april 17th, 1936, the son of tim kennelly, publican and garage proprietor, and his wife bridie ahern, a nurse. The book of judas by brendan kennelly, 1992, bloodaxe edition, in english. Brendan kennelly s book of judas, a 400page epic poem in twelve parts, became the number one bestselling book in ireland. Best sellers todays deals new releases electronics books customer service gift ideas home computers gift cards sell books best sellers new releases childrens books textbooks australian authors kindle books audiobooks.
Brendan kennelly katleyn ferguson beginning with the. Brendan kennelly is one of irelands most distinguished and best loved poets, as well as a renowned teacher and cultural commentator. Brendan kennelly fall 2007 burns visiting scholars libraries at. His family and true friends know what nonsense this is. Kerry, brendan kennelly made dublin, and trinity college, his home. I found it to be really thought provoking, and caused some.
Kerry, kennelly was professor of modern literature at trinity college, dublin for thirty years. The book of judas, brendan kennellys 400page epic poem in twelve parts, was the number one bestselling book in ireland ten years ago. In beautification he is cast as a chat show host, in towards dawn an academic, in before my time a terrorist, in riot a priest. The book of judas, brendan kennelly s 400page epic poem in twelve parts, was the number one bestselling book in ireland. The book of judas, the poem sequence for which kennelly is best known, is a. This satire has since given way to poems that are comic. The little book of judas is a distillation of that literary monster, purged to its traitorous essence. Kennelly followed his shocking epic poem cromwell with the even more notorious book of judas, which topped the irish bestsellers list. In the poem unauthorized version, dramatist brendan behan arrives at the last supper drunk and demanding jesus to give him more drink. I found it to be really thought provoking, and caused some introspection too. Fast and free shipping free returns cash on delivery available on eligible purchase. Brendan kennelly, an irish poet and novelist, was born in.
See brendan kennelly, the little book of judas, bloodaxe, 2002 p. The book of judas bloodaxe books,1991 is an epic poem of nearly 400 pages. This satire has since given way to poems that are comic, desolate, absurd by turns. The ability to find ebullient fragments of mystery in commonplace experiences is a. Librarything is a cataloging and social networking site for booklovers. Buy the book of judas by kennelly, brendan online on amazon. You will find his story brought to life across the ages and particularly in kennellys own modern ireland, where the troubles. Like many irish people, the poet brendan kennelly is a fan of the band u2. He continued to worm his way into kennelly s imagination long after the original book was. Brendan kennellys book of judas, a 400page epic poem in twelve. Mr dicky everyman, halfassed rapist, contemplates a nude. The essential brendan kennelly, edited by michael longley and terence brown bloodaxe books it was a gift that took me unawares and i accepted it these lines from the gift, the second poem in this selection and uttered early in the poets journey, signal a.
Brendan kennelly was born in the village of ballylongford, county kerry, in 1936. Kennelly s judas is a liquid figure who adapts a bewildering number of incarnations. Cart hello select your address best sellers todays deals new releases electronics books customer service gift ideas home computers gift cards sell. The book of judas by brendan kennelly used 9781852241704. Brendan kennelly s guff is both mouthpiece and mouthed off, devils advocate and self critic, everyman and every writer consumed by selfdoubt and selfquestioning. Words drive him into the cave of himself where he questions everything including. As he does in cromwell with cromwell and buffun, kennelly builds the book of judas around the opposition of his two central characters. Since his retirement he has been titled professor emeritus by trinity colle. Kerry, he was professor of modern literature at trinity college, dublin for over 30 years, and retired from teaching in 2005. He went, but found the college daunting at a time when catholics were. The essential brendan kennelly is at turns a lush and jubilant, wintry and harsh collection of poems. This new piece of mischief outjudases cromwell, sinking its teeth into the pants of poetry itself. Another last supper poem will speak of judas preventing a bomb going off. Kennelly again used a historical personage as the starting point for a collection of verses in the 1992 publication, the book of judas.
Here is the work of a poet of abundance, including just over a hundred of his most essential poems, selected by terence brown and michael longley. Book of judas around the opposition of his two central characters. The book of judas is almost 400 pages of poems, most of which are from judas perspective, but also which get into the hearts and minds of modern people, many of them irish, many of them dubliners. Brendan kennelly talks to barry egan about his incredible daughter doodle, stopping drinking, the secret of life his mum gave him, and the joy he gets from giving people pleasure through his poetry. Whereas cromwell 1983 brought us the chillingly banal inner world of its eponymous antihero, and the book of judas 1991 found vestiges of its title character in the acts of each of us, poetry my arse. In his native country kennelly is public property, both popular and controversial, not least for his collections cromwell and the book of judas both of which generated. Brendan kennelly has denounced the new book about him, behind the smile, by sandrine brisset, as hurtful to both him and his only child, doodle. Jan 25, 2015 2 blootered, one of many irish slang expressions for drunk. Kennelly is often called the peoples poet for his open, accessible style, dublins sunday tribune. A tribute to irelands greatest living poet independent. Brendan kennelly and his niece kate kennelly pictured recently.
Its almost as if brissets behind the smile takes its cue from kennellys book of judas. And he has this epic poem called the book of judas, and theres a line in it that says. Not merely lost but irredeemable, kennelly s bitterly articulate judas speaks, dreams and murmurs. Kennellys epic poem, the book of judas, was published in 1991. As kennelly himself explains in the book of judas, the best way to serve the age is to betray it. Press in 1959, brendan kennelly has produced more than thirty collections of. As early as 1970, in his introduction to the penguin book of irish verse, kennelly signals his interest in myth and argues that it is a crucial element in the creative process. The book of judas, brendan kennellys 400page epic poem in twelve parts, was the number one bestselling book in ireland.
Hearing voices in the poetry of brendan kennelly school of. There are also poems in here that made me relate to judas and to what he found himself doing betraying christ. Publication date 1991 topics irish poetry translations into english, english poetry publisher bloodaxe collection. The book of judas by brendan kennelly used 9781852241711. However, kennelly has a leg up on his fellow u2 fans. The library of trinity college dublin dublin, ireland. Brendan kennelly s mission in the poem service, in brendan kennelly s the book cf judas 1991, his main character, judas, says. In his native country kennelly is public property, both popular and controversial, not least for his collections cromwell and the book of judas both of which generated many column inches on publication.
Publication date 1991 topics irish poetry translations into. It provides a convincing outline of the poet s growth from an early lyric genius who was sensitive to discordance into the epic poet who, as the editors observe, combined the note of awestruck lyricism with notes of disgust, fierce satire, sardonic bitterness and selflaceration. A poem by brendan kennelly july 1992, bloodaxe books ltd paperback in english 18522417 9781852241711 zzzz. Brendan kennelly born 17 april 1936 is an irish poet and novelist. The book of judas, the poem sequence for which kennelly is best known, is a response to a contemporary culture in which religion and politics have lost some of their stature. The essential brendan kennelly, edited by michael longley and terence brown bloodaxe books it was a gift that took me unawares and i accepted it these lines from the gift, the second poem in this selection and uttered early in the poets journey, signal a clear declaration of his commitment. Explore museums and play with art transfer, pocket galleries, art selfie, and more. The book of judas 1991 and an unpublished poem called the body. Now retired from teaching, he was professor of modern literature at trinity college, dublin until 2005.
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