Waterloo Press - Alan Morrison

Alan Morrison

Alan Morrison was born in Brighton in 1974. His poetry first appeared in Don’t Think of Tigers (The Do Not Press, 2001) as a prize in the Asham Trust’s First Edition Competition 1998. Three chapbooks followed from Sixties and Waterloo presses. His acclaimed play for voices, Picaresque, has been performed at venues such as The Poetry Cafe and the George Bernard Shaw Theatre RADA. Appearances in over thirty UK and international journals. His critically praised volume The Mansion Gardens was nominated by publisher Paula Brown for the 2006 T.S. Eliot Prize. Morrison is Poet-in-Residence at Mill View psychiatric hospital, Hove, and St. Dunstan’s, Brighton. Morrison is founder and editor of radical literary webzine, the Recusant.

For more information on Alan Morrison, visit: www.alanmorrison.co.uk
For more information on the Recusant, visit www.therecusant.org.uk

A Tapestry of Absent Sitters (2009) ISBN 978-1-906742-04-1 £10.00 Alan Morrison writes with bitter craft, radical eloquence and a passionate Naturalism. Like John Davidson, Robert Tressell, even Gorky, he makes rich poetry out of the thin and battered language of poverty. This is the real thing – Andy Croft ...a young and talented poet and one who can move our sense of pity and sorrow in the manner of Hardy – William Oxley, The London Magazine
His poetic eye is restless in the best sense: tone of voice, choice of subject, angle of approach – all are varied – Michael W. Thomas, Other Poetry Morrison is an out of the ordinary writer... a creative and thoughtful poet seeking to enrich the language – Gwilym Williams, Pulsar With Alan Morrison’s poetry I become aware of a definite personal voice, his own unique verbal DNA – Norman Buller Morrison has attained the Holy Grail of poetic endeavour: a strong, distinctive voice Stephanie Smith-Browne
The Mansion Gardens Paula Brown Publishing, 2006 perfect bound 172pp ISBN 1-905168-11-X Alan Morrison's first full volume ('In effect... a series of mini-collections', as one reviewer commented), The Mansion Gardens, was published in November 2006, and launched at Battersea Arts Centre. Publisher Paula Brown nominated it for the 2006 TS Eliot Prize. The volume is arranged chronologically, covering the main bulk of Morrison's writing from 1991 - 2006 and includes prefaces by Barry Tebb, John Horder and Simon Jenner of Waterloo Press, the latter having been Morrison's mentor for most of the period covered in this volume. The Mansion Gardens has attracted much acclaim since its publication in journals such as The London Magazine, Pulsar and Other Poetry. The book is available online from Blackwells and Amazon (including a 'collectible' signed edition for £19.99) among other notable sites.
The Mansion Gardens is indeed a worthwhile enterprise. To have so much Morrison in one volume is instructive and, very often, illuminating. Michael W. Thomas, Other Poetry I had to stop going back over things, give myself a stern talking-to about savouring and turn out the light... so many fine things. I shall be coming back to it for a proper wallow at the first opportunity David Savoury, FRSL ...violence in the city centre ('Battle of Trafalgar Street') through to Hardyesque meditations on raw nature ('Mist'). Captivating Rocks Magazine, Brighton To order a copy straight from the publisher please click on this link and follow the instructions: http://www.thepeoplespoet.com/paulabrownpublishing/themansiongardens.htm

Giving Light - Waterloo Samplers No. 2 (2003) ISBN 1-902731-14-X £3.00 “…the strangely haunting perspectives of ‘Last of the Spray Carnations’, the marvellous cynical whimsy of ‘The Cottage’; ‘The House of Sadness Past’; ‘The Sound of Eating’; ‘A Hamper from Landrake’ – terrific…a real poet” K.M. Newmann, Summer Palace Press “Outstanding – books beautifully produced aren’t normally matched by the contents, but this is. One of the finest books I've seen in a long, long time. Alan has a voice entirely his own. Stanza 4 of 'Last of the Spray Carnations' is worthy of Pound. 'Tears of mustard sun' - I wish I'd written that! The shorter poems too are excellent - wise, witty and full of feeling. 'The Cottage' is marvellous. At 63 when I read his work I feel there's hope for poetry still.” Barry Tebb, Sixties Press
“Some of the shorter poems seem to search for the self-referencing wisdoms of an isolated mind and remind one of the aphorisms of William Blake. All the poems strike sparks” Graham High, Poetry Express "...the four-liners have a Blakean feeling pulsating right the way through them. Every word counts. The poems, in their quirkiness, also remind me of Stevie” John Horder “The booklet resonates with poems about the everyday meaning of being alive. ...Morrison is able to dip into the profound” Doreen King, New Hope International To read extracts please click here