[Duncan Gillies MacLaurin]

The latest in the Guardian.

Duncan

[Ed Shacklee]

Originally Posted by Duncan Gillies MacLaurin

The latest in the Guardian.

Duncan

Mills & Boon seems to be a lot like the Harlequin Romance line here -- ouch. Money quote from the Guardian article:

Hill demeans himself. After 350 years of male dominance. Duffy is the first female poet laureate. Hill's comparison of the language of Duffy to Mills & Boon is like a man in the 1950s comparing the first female managing director to a jumped-up office angel.

[Mary Meriam]

I believe Hill also called himself a "sinister old harlequin." Hill's discussion of "the language of Duffy" includes both the bad and the good, which is a good thing, I think. Here's a more complete quote from Hill on Duffy's The Christmas Truce - sounds pretty good to me:

So that although “filled” and “glittering” are words that come with a standard poetry kit, “treasured” is beautifully chosen and placed. ... Something instantaneous occurs when a word is used effectively - I would dare to say magically. For an instant, the poem seems to hover over itself, as if aware of itself, as a well-struck thing resonating.

[Duncan Gillies MacLaurin]

Here's Allan Massie putting Hill's comments into perspective.

Not very well written though. How CAN he write "...Hill...says: ..." in §3 and then start §4: "He went on to say,..." (Mixed tenses.)

Duncan

[Rose Kelleher]

http://www.amazon.com/Suppress-Women.../dp/0292724454

[Rick Mullin]

I'm convinced that the raunchier meaning of "policing her patch" that Michael would prefer is exactly what Hill means.

RM

[Bill Carpenter]

Also from the Guardian article:

"...this year could be the best for poetry since the mid-60s..."

Can't argue with that!