Bang Said the Gun

The Bang Said the Gun anthology has been described as a collection for 'people who don’t like poetry.' Indeed those unmoved by gushing sonnets, couplets or quatrains will be relieved by the collection's accessibility, but for those that know a thing or two about a canzone, they too will be able to marvel at the collection and its deceivingly simple form. This anthology has the ability to unify both sides by compiling a miscellany of modern voices who skilfully address contemporary conditions in contemporary terms.

As Ian McMillan outlines in his foreword, Bang Said the Gun developed from a poetry night at The Roebuck in 1856. Forty years on and the night is stronger than ever. This anthology brings together the big noise poets such as Kate Tempest, Hollie McNish, and Rob Auton who have 'experienced sublime delight of the BSTG vortex' of The Roebuck. It is a kaleidoscopic literary treat, packing in rants about air hostesses who refuse to give pens, the Jolly Green Giant and the bitter-sweet innocence of an autistic child. This collection of twenty-something poets is pulsing with energy, bringing the mundane to life with smack and sardonic tone. [Maria Whelan]