Deadpan

DeadpanDiscover the brilliance of James Norcliffes latest poetry collection, 'Deadpan.' This brand new paperback features 100 pages of evocative poetry that challenges the reader to embrace lifes complexities with a blend of humor and depth. Measuring at 165 x 235 x 10 mm, this collection is perfect for poetry lovers seeking pieces that convey big emotions without overt sentimentality. Norcliffe's deft craftsmanship shines through as he navigates themes of

Discover the brilliance of James Norcliffe’s latest poetry collection, 'Deadpan.' This brand new paperback features 100 pages of evocative poetry that challenges the reader to embrace life’s complexities with a blend of humor and depth. Measuring at 165 x 235 x 10 mm, this collection is perfect for poetry lovers seeking pieces that convey big emotions without overt sentimentality. Norcliffe's deft craftsmanship shines through as he navigates themes of loss, identity, and the transience of life. The first section, 'Poor Yorick,' invites you into the reflective psyche of a narrator wrestling with the nuances of aging, while subsequent sections like 'Scan,' 'Trumpet Vine,' 'Telegraph Road,' and 'Travellers in a small Ford,' delve into the fleeting nature of childhood and existence. Each poem is characterized by its precision, dry wit, and a touch of surrealism, making them a treasure for readers who appreciate technical mastery in poetry. With Norcliffe's sharp and compassionate voice at the helm, 'Deadpan' is not just a book; it’s a philosophical exploration wrapped in lyrical beauty. Enjoy hassle-free shipping within New Zealand with Smartfox, your trusted NZ-owned business based in Auckland. Stocked locally, this means no hidden costs or duties—just pure literary enjoyment.

CONDITION: Brand New
Dimensions: 165 x 235 x 10 mm
Pages: 100
Bind: paperback
Author: James Norcliffe Publisher: Otago University Press


The title of James Norcliffe’s tenth poetry collection points deftly to the way it conveys big emotions without cracking a smile or shedding a tear. In Deadpan, Norcliffe writes in an alert, compassionate yet sceptical voice. The book’s first section, ‘Poor Yorick’, shares the thoughts of an introspective narrator as he contends with the travails of later life. ‘In his hospital pyjamas’, Yorick is by turns cheerful and beset by loss, laughing and weeping, comparing the stages of life (and death). The following sections – ‘Scan’, ‘Trumpet Vine’, ‘Telegraph Road’ and ‘Travellers in a small Ford’ – reach around to mine experience in a world where ‘nothing lasts’; not childhood, place nor identity. An appropriate response to this ephemeral world is to embrace ambiguity, uncertainty, absurdity and surrealism. ‘Deadpan,’ writes the author in his introductory essay, ‘is the porter in Macbeth pausing to take a piss while there is that urgent banging at the gate. It is Buster Keaton standing unmoved as the building crashes down on top of him. It is my poker-faced Yorkshire grandfather playing two little dicky birds sitting on the wall.’ These poems are concise and contained, using supple, precise language and a gleam of dry and mordant wit. Deadpan is the work of a mature and technically astute poet who is one of New Zealand’s leading writers.

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