James Sutherland-Smith Knihy

At the Skin Resort is a collection poetry set in Central and Eastern Europe and written in the years following the revolutions of 1989. The poet, James Sutherland-Smith went there to work early in 1989 and found himself caught up in th events of that time. He has settled in Slovakia which is a country in the heart of the Slavonic nations and subject to the various influences and pressures from north, south,east and west. It is a place of astonishing variety interms of culture, history and nature and is exemplary for recent and more ancient history. Sutherland-Smith's poems are not,however, travel poems, but poems whose significance communicates beyond their locale.

The book features exquisite love poetry that intricately weaves themes of love and hate, reflecting the complexities of human emotions. It explores the nature of language, particularly poetic expression, and examines the tension between the pursuit of truth and the inherent duplicity of words. This discourse on communication reveals the challenges of conveying authentic feelings in a world where language can often mislead.

Exploring themes of nature and perception, this collection transitions from a garden to a struggling Hapsburg town and into the forest, blending personal reflection with broader historical contexts. The poems highlight the significance of overlooked details, elevating the mundane to visionary status. The title poem pays homage to a poet who focused on the small-scale, emphasizing the importance of mindfulness in a contemporary world where simplistic solutions often fall short in addressing existential threats.

Exploring themes of love, nature, and philosophical musings, this collection features sixty-four improvisations inspired by a small Central European river and a feral black cat. The poems, arranged by the changing seasons, intertwine the perspectives of diverse figures, including philosophers and literary icons. Their emotional landscapes span from lighthearted and paradoxical to deeply melancholic and erotic, creating a rich tapestry of human experience and connection.