[BITList] Clive James in running for poetry award

[John Feltham]

Clive James in running for poetry award

November 25, 2009 9:51am
AUSTRALIAN poet, author and TV personality Clive James is in the running for a prestigious 2009 Costa Book Award.

James' collection of poems, Angels Over Elsinore, is on the shortlist for the poetry prize given as part of the awards.

The book includes reminiscences of the 70-year-old's Australian childhood, observations on the 21st Century and reflections on art, science and faith.

The judges described it as "beautifully written, intelligent, full of ideas clearly communicated and feelings perfectly encapsulated".

"These are proper poems with musical structure that are clever, moving and memorable," they said.

Sydney-born James has written more than 30 books, including verse, four volumes of autobiography, collections of literary and TV criticism, travel tales and novels.

He is well-known for presenting TV travel documentaries and was made a Member of the Order of Australia in 1992.

James was joined on the shortlist, chosen from 100 entries and announced in London yesterday, by South African-born Katharine Kilalea for One Eyed Leigh, Ruth Padel's Darwin: A Life in Poems, and A Scattering by Christopher Reid.

The awards, sponsored by the Costa coffee shop chain, recognise the most enjoyable books in five categories published in the past year by writers based in the UK and Ireland.

The categories are first novel, novel, biography, poetry and children's book.

Category winners each receive £5000 ($9000) and will be announced on January 5.

The overall winner of the Costa Book of the Year 2009 receives £25,000 and will be announced at a ceremony in London on January 26.


ooroo

Bad typists of the word, untie.