The Grassling
(Author) Elizabeth-Jane Burnett'A subtle, moving celebration of place and connectedness . . . The Grassling brings the sounds, smells and sights of the countryside alive like few other books. Burnett stretches the limits of prose, infusing it with poetic intensity to create a powerful, original voice' PD Smith, Guardian What fills my lungs is wider than breath could be. It is a place and a language torn, matted and melded; flowered and chiming with bones. That breath is that place and until I get there I will not really be breathing. Spurred on by her father's declining health and inspired by the history he once wrote of his small Devon village, Elizabeth-Jane Burnett delves through layers of memory, language and natural history to tell a powerful story of how the land shapes us and speaks to us. The Grassling is a book about roots: what it means to belong when the soil beneath our feet is constantly shifting, when the people and places that nurtured us are slipping away.
Elizabeth-Jane Burnett
Elizabeth-Jane Burnett is a British poet and academic known for her innovative approach to poetry and eco-poetics. She has published several collections of poetry, including "Swims" and "The Grassling," which blend language, nature, and ecological themes. Burnett's work is characterized by its lyrical beauty, deep connection to the natural world, and experimentation with form and language.
Burnett's contributions to literature include pushing the boundaries of traditional poetry and exploring the intersection of language and nature in her work. She is considered a leading voice in the eco-poetry movement, using her poetry to raise awareness of environmental issues and the importance of our relationship with the natural world.
One of Burnett's most famous works is "The Grassling," a collection that explores the idea of language as a living entity and our connection to the earth. Through her unique poetic style and powerful imagery, Burnett invites readers to reconsider their relationship with the environment and the impact of human actions on the planet. Elizabeth-Jane Burnett's work continues to inspire and challenge readers to think differently about poetry, nature, and the world around them.