Voices from Their Ain Countrie: The Poems of Marion Angus and Violet Jacob (ASLS Annual Volumes) Paperback – 16 Aug. 2006

excellent

Book in perfect condition and lovely to read the old North East Scots in Marion Angus' poetry. Would recommend this.

still enjoying this one

The ‘voices’ of Marion Angus and Violet Jacob are distinctively lyrical and, mainly, in the Scottish vernacular. ‘Their ain countrie’ is North-East Scotland and, specifically, the county of Angus. Marion Angus moved to Arbroath from Sunderland at the age of 11 and Violet Jacob was born near Montrose. Typically, their verse explores universal themes: the significance of landscape and place; the changes wrought by time; the character and lives of women and the experience of love.Besides the comprehensive selection of the poets’ verse, the strength of ‘From Their Ain Countrie’ is Katherine Gordon’s notes. The editor’s notes in an anthology sometimes do an author disservice, getting in the way of the poetry itself. In ‘From Their Ain Countrie’, the notes are admirably succinct and invariably illuminating. Essentially, they contextualise each poem, and only where necessary gloss content and explicate meaning. No reference is made to the various musicians who have set Angus and Jacob’s words to music – a minor quibble.Gordon acknowledges the similarities between the two poets but, sensibly, elects to deal with Angus and Jacob separately, reinforcing their distinctiveness. The chronological presentation of the poems according to date of publication enables the reader to see each poem in the context of its writer’s poetic development. Gordon scarcely wastes a word in her brief overview of each poet’s life and her pertinent analysis of their major themes. The endnotes to Gordon’s introduction and the anthology’s bibliography are exemplary ‘Voices From Their Ain Countrie’ is a magnificent commemoration of the poetry of two significant writers whose verse is still insufficiently appreciated.Stewart Robertson