Featuring ten collage illustrations by the author, Helen Ivory's new poetry collection Constructing a Witch fixes on the monstering and the scapegoating of women and on the fear of ageing femininity. In this collection, the witch appears as the barren, child-eating hag; she is a lustful seductress luring men to a path of corruption; she is a powerful or cantankerous woman whose cursing must be silenced by force. These bewitching poems explore the witch archetype and the witch as human woman. They examine the nature of superstition and the necessity of magic and counter-magic to gain a fingerhold of agency, when life is chaotic and fragile. In the poems of Constructing a Witch Helen Ivory investigates witch tourism, the witch as outsider, cultural representations of the witch, female power and disempowerment, the menopause, and how the female body has been used and misunderstood for centuries.
Helen Ivory
Helen Ivory is a British poet, editor, and visual artist. She is known for her surreal and darkly imaginative poetry, often exploring themes of love, loss, and the complexities of human relationships. Ivory's work is characterized by its vivid imagery, haunting language, and sharp emotional insight.
One of Ivory's most notable works is her poetry collection "Waiting for Bluebeard," which was shortlisted for the Aldeburgh First Collection Prize. The collection showcases Ivory's unique voice and her ability to blend the surreal with the everyday in a compelling and thought-provoking way.
Ivory's contributions to literature include her role as the editor of the poetry magazine "Ink Sweat & Tears," where she has championed the work of emerging poets and helped to create a space for innovative and experimental poetry. Her impact on the literary genre can be seen in her willingness to push the boundaries of language and form, creating poetry that is both challenging and deeply moving.
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