Black Book

An anthology of work collected from the writing and performances of poetry by Ian D. Hall.

Liverpool has always nurtured distinctive voices in its poetry, music, and art. In this collection, Ian Hall - poet, performer, reviewer of film, theatre, and music, founder of 'Liverpool Sound and Vision', graduate of English, and all-round local legend - sounds his voice with distinction, joining it to the city's resounding chorus of talents. Black Book moves us from the Armitage-like wit of 'One Day in Crewe' to the dark protest of 'Who's to Blame'; from Crosby beach in 'The Seagull versus the Iron Men' to the American, Bourbon-scented whirl of 'Kerouac Dreams'. The versatility and range of these poems will take you and shake you, shifting from sonnet to free verse and back again, and from the poet's profound love for a Morris Minor to the deep myths of Eve and the Devil, Echo and Narcissus.

To borrow a telling line, each poem is a 'sculpture of passionate sentiment : delicate yet enduring, often poignant yet also ruggedly tough.'

Read on. Enjoy.
May the music of this poetry fill you, every note.
Dr Michael Davies, University of Liverpool

Ian puts all the write words in the right places to produce profound poems.
John Gorman

Words build emotional bridges and skyscrapers. Poet Ian D. Hall uses the tools of his trade to convey past and future experiences. He has a solid foundation of work to build upon. A distinctive, sensitive voice using light, shade and colour to maximum effect.
Peter Grant