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Poems (2007)
Choosing to
stay with traditional forms of versification and particularly focussing on
spiritual themes, the richness of his mind and the precision of his
expression combine to cover a huge range of human experiences with profound
honesty, often with a wry sense of humour, honest sensuality and a
compassionate regard for whatever subject matter he enriches. – Mr D F Nash,
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New Poems (2006)
Andrew
Staniland has a voice like no other poet currently writing in English. He writes
in verse that is polished, romantic, reminiscent of a great 19th-century poet
like Keats, yet his sensibility is lustrously contemporary. These are poems
to roll around the tongue and relax on in the mind. A wonderful writer, and a
great discovery. – B. Fryer,
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The Beauty Of Psyche
The finely
crafted, lyrical prose of this novel is cause enough to recommend it. Its
brilliance, though, lies in the author's tantalising exposition of the myth
of Psyche as an allegory for the modern spiritual life. Eschewing any
straightforward reinterpretation of the myth in a contemporary milieu the
author favours the retention of the classical purity of the original, but
recounts it against a lusciously vivid series of imaginary backdrops derived
from some of the great works of art that have themselves taken Psyche for
their inspiration. Ingeniously, he then makes accessible the themes of the
myth by presenting the whole drama as a piece of imaginative theatre
performed and intimately appreciated by a group of actors, whose inner worlds
the author reveals through another level of relationship, by interposing his
own personal connection with them. The result is a fascinatingly
multi-faceted and graceful dance between the myth, the actors who play its
dramatis personae and the author to reveal the inner beauty of spiritual
experience. The author's intuitive touch in the interpretation of this myth,
the casting of his characters and the congruities of his imagined stage sets are
as masterly as they are subtle. His obvious sense of fun makes this novel a
joy to read, and his delight in the detail of every day life brings the myth
authentically to life. "Genius isn't an infinite gift", the author
comments, "We should be grateful for it". This novel is a work of
genius and I am grateful to have read it. – Tony
Doubleday, Amazon UK
What a
wonderful book. So affirmative, so effortlessly good. It has great warmth and
an unfailing sharpness. It is paradoxical in its expressive lucidity: taking
on the inexpressible, the sublime, the whatever, the allever. This wonderful
multi-levelled return to the loveliness of the myth has a relevance to
everything. The style is radiant and deeply infectious but inimitable. This
is surely pure neo-Keatsian post-modernism. The references reach out
everywhere and the occasional aphorisms have an exactness of wit in every
sense of that loaded word. Everyone who
loves poetry, has hope for the inexhaustibility of the novel form, is possessed
of a sense of humour and is not unfamiliar with how gentle irony can be,
should, must, has to buy this brilliant book. – Mr D F Nash,
Amazon UK
Staniland's
style is beautiful, original, open and rigorous. His books are compelling,
and no more so than his sensuous novel 'The Weight of Light' that traces a
woman's journey of growth and transformation. The tightly crafted prose is
somehow light and lucid and, with effortless skill, Staniland's words burst
open a world of memory and recognition for the reader. |
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The Weight Of Light
I've just finished
this wonderful novel. Words fail me but I'll try. It is magnificent, subtle,
profoundly beautiful and totally extraordinary. It is written
so exactly yet with such compassion. I have never read anything before that
so successfully explores the contours and dimensions of spiritual practice.
It is, in turns, (and often altogether in the same sentence) wise, humorous,
deeply moving, generous and lyrical. The originality
and confidence of the writing is beautifully crafted, both structure and
narrative. And exploding with wisdom and joy. It has an
encompassing originality - or what are for me such lovely gentle
juxtapositions of ideas. It is a book
about the Light which could only be written by someone who is of the Light. – Mr D F Nash,
Amazon UK I never
realised daily routine like getting up, switching off the alarm clock or just
getting ready for work can be expressed so beautifully. Delphine Romand is a
single French woman living in London. The book is about her thoughts, work,
friends, music, relationships, family and her life. The author makes you fall
in love with words and Delphine's world. That he is a poet gives Staniland
the added advantage. His visual style of writing makes the characters come
alive. He has a unique style. He uses extremely short sentences, disregards
the regular novel format, rebelling against convention, adding almost a
lyrical quality to the book. The story is
not a poem but prose, though the poetic quality is unmistakable. It isn't
narrated directly like Alfred Noyes' poem "The Highwayman" nor is
the meaning disguised like Robert Frost's beautiful poem "Nothing gold
can stay". It is a novel that manages to meet midway between the two
with a dash of humour. The digs at New Age gurus will make you grin. If you
are unmarried or single, you will be able to relate to portions of the world
and thoughts of Delphine or her friends. If you are married, it will remind
you of someone in your circle of friends or acquaintances whom you may have
wondered about. It is almost uncanny how the author has managed to get into a
woman's head. The book
reminded me of Bryan Adams' song "Have you ever really loved a
woman?". If you thought literary fiction was boring or just picturesque
speech as I did, you will be pleasantly surprised after you read this
uniquely lyrical book! – Deepa
Kandaswamy, Windows and Aisles |
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Four Plays
A blank verse classical tragedy with some cracking lines; a pungent exploration
of the role and value of art in society; a witty and allusive comedy of the
writing life with laugh-out-loud instincts; an impassioned plea for tolerance
across divides of belief and prejudice... a rigorous but generous talent is
at work here. Warmly intelligent, oscillating effortlessly between irony and
sympathy and shot through with Staniland's trademark humanity, these four
plays impress and delight. – Nostromo, Amazon UK |
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