Well, if a highbrow is someone who can read a book, then the LitRev is highbrow.

no, john
 

Someone who can read a book is literate. Highbrow not the same. People who can read, say, Jeffrey Archer not highbrow. Perhaps you were, in a sideways fashion, trying to make this point.

Congratulations to all the honorees, who inspire us to try to match their industry and talent. And it's terrific to be reminded that there ARE some sources of encouragement out there . . . and oh, my goodness, monetary rewards??! Wonderful.

--Jean

Yes, Jayne, grumpy. Due, perhaps, to a combination of disappointment at the failure of advice that non-subscribers only qualify for ten quid, which means cancelling that order for a new I-Pad, along with this gut feeling that a 221 run lead on the first innings is not going to be enough.

Apologies to all for the unseemly rant. Truth is, I haven't even read through a copy of the said mag.

Peter

Dear Bazzamatazz,

I would give quite a lot - not quite as much as you won, but quite a lot - to read 'Urban Ghosts'. Possible?

Cally

here it is
 

URBAN GHOSTS

Each city hosts its ghosts, a secret seam
of eerie buried energy. Past lives
persist, as in a memorable dream.
Stone crumbles; humans die; ethos survives.

Soothing the hyper-frenzy of New York,
the bones and spirits of the Delaware
(murmurs of wampum, wigwam, tomahawk)
infuse the talkative Manhattan air.

In Paris – Haussmannised for good or ill –
the Marais, so bon-chic-bon-genre, hides
a mediaeval no-go zone where still
a phantom Court of Miracles presides.

Easter Week wraiths prowl Dublin's Georgian rows,
eternally part-tragedy, part-farce,
while London's spectral mob of ruffians flows,
grog-sodden, towards the sound of breaking glass.

The casual tourist and his camera see
the recommended sites, consumed by rote,
but cameras are blind to history.
The genius loci adds the piquant note.

Is there a poet living who could better stanza 2? And the whole? £5,000 is well-deserved. Huzzah Bazza!

I hear mutterings from the troops about the COST of a Lit Rev subscription, postage and all. But an online subscription, such as I have, costs, oh I dunno, £30. That's it. 12 goes at £300 and £150 and the off chance of £5000. It took me three years to win more than the odd tenner. Come on, people, where's you fighting spirit. And the whole thing's an OK read too.

Actually £28.

Congratulations to Bazza, John, and Martin. I loved the ones I read and would love to read the grand prize winner.

Frank

Yes, it is. Bazz is best.

Thanks!


pssst Frank! It's just above us - #16! 'Urban Ghosts'

litrev
 

Like you, John, it took me yonks to get in the money, but I never minded paying the sub for a reasonably interesting mag (a little given to puffery) with a chance to win big. Once I started winning, though, I soon more than recouped, & I copped the 5 grand in 2002. I'd say anyone who is confident of his or her ability should pay the sub, do their best & hope. After all, one monthly first prize would pay the sub for 10 years.