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Unread 11-22-2020, 10:26 AM
Bill Carpenter Bill Carpenter is offline
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Default Ežandun is at the printer's

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Pour your glory, Lord, on the struggling king,
who by your hand ransomed the ravaged land;
illuminate the faces of your people,
who bled for you on every slaughterfield;
and kindle, Comforter, our uncouth hearts
that we may burn to do your will and earn
the blessings, not the curses, of our ancestors...


Greetings, all,
My Alfred epic, titled Ežandun, is now with the printer and due out late December-early January. A few years ago, for a few years, I posted excerpts from the work in progress and benefited from the encouragement and close attention of readers here.

It tells the story of young Alfred's and Ealhswith's war with the Danes in 878 AD. Three times Alfred has "bought peace" with the Danes in the years leading up to the story. Now the Danes under Gorm/Godrum/Guthrum attack on the Feast of the Epiphany and drive Alfred into the wilderness. The poem is about 7,000 lines in 12 books, with illustrations by Miko Simmons, an acclaimed theatrical designer and artist based in St. Paul. The publisher is Beaver's Pond Press, also in St. Paul. Ežandun is posted on Amazon, searchable as "ethandun"; Beaver's Pond will handle fulfillment, as will I. Ežandun on Amazon

I can send the MS (or the book when it is available) to anyone who would like to consider reviewing it. Warm thanks to all who helped with this project!

Last edited by Bill Carpenter; 11-22-2020 at 10:45 AM.
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Unread 11-22-2020, 01:15 PM
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Rick Mullin Rick Mullin is offline
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Great news Bill! I remember the stretches you brought here. I'm looking forward to reading the complete epic!

Rick
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Unread 11-22-2020, 01:24 PM
Bill Carpenter Bill Carpenter is offline
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Thanks, Rick! Huncke and Soutine are both inspirations to me.
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Unread 11-22-2020, 04:28 PM
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R. Nemo Hill R. Nemo Hill is online now
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Congrats on the culmination of the long journey, Bill.

Nemo
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Unread 11-23-2020, 05:04 AM
Aaron Poochigian Aaron Poochigian is offline
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Bill, that's great--I am excited about this poem. You've taken the old form and filled it with living language.
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Aaron Poochigian
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Unread 11-23-2020, 10:31 AM
Andrew Frisardi Andrew Frisardi is offline
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This is terrific news, Bill. Congratulations!
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Unread 11-23-2020, 02:16 PM
Cally Conan-Davies Cally Conan-Davies is offline
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Amazing news, Bill! What a road! Hearty congratulations for this accomplishment!!

Cally
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Unread 11-24-2020, 12:54 PM
Bill Carpenter Bill Carpenter is offline
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Default Ežandun is at the printer's

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Thank you, friends, for your helpful comments on the early drafts of this. Rick and Nemo, Huncke and Erich Zann were the first long-form poems by Sphereans I read. Aaron, I am a fan of Jason, reading on the edge of my chair and waiting for what your meter will do next. Andrew, anything a Dantista has to say about epic is worth hearing. Cally, muse of epic, you were one of the first commenters on this project. Your note on these lines:

An ivory crucifix; a silver scourge;
a reliquary clad in ivory tiles,
each panel crammed with goggling eyes and drawn-out,
knotted, disunited limbs; a glass cup;
a silver dish on which bare shepherds pranced
and women lolled on double-bodied monsters...


was permanently inspiring. Best wishes, Bill
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Unread 12-13-2020, 01:33 PM
Bill Carpenter Bill Carpenter is offline
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Greetings,
There is now an independent outlet at https://williamgcarpenter.com/ for Ežandun, the epic poem I workshopped here over a few years. The book is hardbound with dust jacket, 6x9, with full-page color illustrations by Miko Simmons. It presents Alfred's and Ealhswith's struggles with the invading pagan Danes in 878. Best wishes, Bill
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