Red - Linda France

'Red introduces us to a clever, accessible new voice. Energetic, ranging, witty, candid, informal and excitingly individualistic, Linda France's work makes use of many available styles, and often incorporates the swiftness, tightness and unfazed engagement with actuality of the best journalism. Responding with compassion to the realities of life in Britain in the 1990s, it invents a poetic world that is demystied but not impoverished. There is much sensuous pleasure in the "skin" of things, and in language itself. Red opens up important new territory for poetry, and will appeal not only to those who already enjoy reading it, but give those who suspect poetry is irrelevant to them a rare inducement to think again.' - Carol Rumens