Josef Hanzlik

An interesting selection of poems that display Hanzlik's evolution as a writer. His early works contain a barely suppressed anger and violence towards the world. Bleak and edgy, they make for occassionally uncomfortable reading, but can have a powerful impact. The middle section continues in this vein, but also includes some stunning reworking of bible stories and some painful reflections on humanity. The latter section, written in the 70s and 80s, is a little more mundane by comparison and, in my opinion, shows a poet who is losing touch with his surroundings. Nevertheless, this was a very readable and thought provoking collection of poems, and one I enjoyed a lot.… (mais)