Lucinda Gane, Christopher Reid's wife, died in October 2005. A Scattering is his tribute to her and consists of four poetic sequences, the first written during her illness, and the other three at intervals after her death. Shortlisted for the Forward Prize 2009, A Scattering is described by Adam Newey in The Guardian as 'A beautiful book... [that] performs the miracle of bringing the dead back to life.'
A Scattering
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'Heartbreaking... [they] exemplify the best of what Arete has published' --Lachlan Mackinnon, The Guardian
'An intensely personal and, at times, heartbreaking volume of poems' --Mark Brown, The Guardian
'An intensely personal and, at times, heartbreaking volume of poems' --Mark Brown, The Guardian
About the Author
Christopher Reid has written books of poems for both adults and children. His edition of Letters of Ted Hughes appeared in 2007.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
15 of 15 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I wholeheartedly recommend this collection of themed poems to everyone who has experienced the loss of a loved-one or who has yet to experience the trauma of such an event. Christopher Reid has shown that poetry doesn't have to be elitist or elusive in nature. Through an almost narrative style we share something of his sense of loss.
This is one of the most poignant, sad, emotionally charged and yet somehow uplifting collections of poems I have read. It is a truly passionate requiem for a relationship.
This book deserves the Costa Book Award and more. I cannot praise it highly enough.
This is one of the most poignant, sad, emotionally charged and yet somehow uplifting collections of poems I have read. It is a truly passionate requiem for a relationship.
This book deserves the Costa Book Award and more. I cannot praise it highly enough.
13 of 13 people found the following review helpful
By Archie
Format:Paperback
'A Scattering ' by Christopher Reid is tragic, but beautifully tragic. Coleridge said that poetry was the 'best words in the best order' and Reid does exactly this. There is nothign difficult about the poetry, but is is immensely moving in it's quiet, simple way. It is one of those works which makes you pause and appreciate all every person in your life. It makes you realise that life is hort and that we should appreicate every moment with those we know and love. It is a sad book, but one which should be read by everyone, regardless of whether they like poetry or not; it's tribute and message are simple, but they are thing which should be repreated again and again.
41 of 44 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
These poems are a tribute to art, love and loss.
Perhaps the strongest volume of poems since Douglas Dunn's ELEGIES
We are uplifted and redeemed by a terrible sadness. Highy recommended.
Perhaps the strongest volume of poems since Douglas Dunn's ELEGIES
We are uplifted and redeemed by a terrible sadness. Highy recommended.
18 of 19 people found the following review helpful
By Thomas Hardy
Format:Paperback
I read the reviews from the Costa book awards and thought that I had to read this book. Reid writes sensitively and movingly about loss but not in a maudlin sense. The poetry feels fresh and evocative and, for anyone who has experience of loss, dares to put in to words what many people feel. I would recommend this book to anyone who has lost a loved one but I would maybe wait a while to read it.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I heard the author talk about his book on Radio 5 and ordered it straight away. It has not disappointed. An emotional book without sentimentality which I am sure I will re-read many times over the coming years. Both sad and uplifting.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
By Liz
Format:Paperback
I think that everyone who has loved, or who longs to love, should read these poems.
There is such poignancy in loss but who would choose not to feel such love .
There is such poignancy in loss but who would choose not to feel such love .
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
By E. Seal
Format:Paperback
I knew that the subject matter of this book was surrounding the death of Christopher Reid's wife, but I didn't anticipate how uplifting and beautiful the poems would be. It was a thought- provoking and moving experience to journey with him through his bereavement and I came through it with a tremendous sense of hope. I would recommend this set of poems to anyone, the poetry has value in its own right, but especially for anyone who is able to contemplate the loss of a loved one.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
By S. Harris
Format:Paperback
A beautiful, scattered (yet perfectly cohesive) collection of thoughts, memories and beautiful images of the poet's late wife. Recapturing the last of her life, and the beginnings of his new one, and never at any point letting the vast cavernous depth of his grief taint the times he recounts. Stronly recommended - particularly for someone like myself, who didn't even consider herself a fan of poetry in the first place.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Widow 's Thoughts
By chance I heard of Christopher Reid on the radio today and searched for this book. I am stunned by his perception. Read more
Published 1 month ago by joy mckenzie
4.0 out of 5 stars
Worth reading
When someone we love dies we experience grief in four distinct stages. So it's probably no coincidence that Reid's poetry collection A Scattering, inspired by his wife's illness... Read more
Published 10 months ago by What Cathy Read
5.0 out of 5 stars
Devastatingly Good
Reid writes with the incredible power to draw emotion from the reader by using intensely personal imagery. Read more
Published on 5 Jan 2011 by James Appleyard
5.0 out of 5 stars
A major work
In his latest collection Christopher Reid deals with the most difficult of human themes-that of loss. Read more
Published on 21 Nov 2010 by Supportyourlocallibrary
5.0 out of 5 stars
Moving poetry
A most moving collection by Christopher Reid, paricularly about the unexpected, catching times and places of bereavement. Read more
Published on 4 May 2010 by G. Day-Lewis
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