Apocalypse Press

Apocalypse Press is proud to announce the forthcoming publication of "The Writer in the Story and Other Figurations" by Ted Richer on February 26th, 2003.

ISBN 0-9525906-2-X
pp. 382

£20 / $30

All enquiries to:

Apocalypse Press
51 Woking Road, Guildford GU1 1QD UK
Tel / Fax: 0 44 (0)1483 841550
enquiries@apocalypsepress.co.uk

Designed by Georgina Watson.  Printed and bound in Great Britain by Commercial Press, Guildford

‘The Writer in the Story and Other Figurations’ by American poet and dramatist Ted Richer (right) is the culmination of ten years’ work.  The text of the 86 figurations is enhanced by the inclusion at the back of the book of a CD of 22 figurations and the play ‘Crystal Night’ read by Ted Richer and the Boston actress, Paula Langton.

The introduction by Professor Christopher Ricks is an adaptation of his introduction to the work of Ted Richer as broadcast on Radio 3’s Twenty Minutes which introduced the poet’s work to a British audience.  Magdalena J. Fosse photographed Ted Richer and the front cover design incorporates her photographs together with a portrait of the writer on the back cover.  The book was designed by Georgina Watson who has designed all Apocalypse Press books.

The Figurations are linked vignettes, all double spaced as befits their dramatic nature, and they can be seen as playlets probing and recording the poet’s rites of passage and other seminal experiences.  The poet frequently interrogates the action, then withdraws to react, reabsorb and rewrite thereby transforming meaning and action.  Couples exchange questions often ending up with the opposite sentiment on their lips in an alchemical interaction: the questions are typical lovers’ questions but the rhetorical ones often receive an alternative answer in the end as Richer repeatedly forces the issue.

These monologues and dialogues are short but deeply memorable as Richer’s use of language has a haunting ritual quality forged by obsession: love, love lost, love rejected.  These tightly written dramas transform meaning in a few words or phrases. Their intensity is remarkable.

Richer’s work has been performed on stage in Boston theatres but this publication is his first appearance in print.  The intended audience is the student / adult market.

• View Contents

	Listen to Ted Richer reading "Writing" (MP3; 2,349kb)
	Listen to Ted Richer reading "Prophetic" (MP3; 3,225kb)
	Listen to Ted Richer reading "The Writer in the Story" (MP3; 2,513kb)
	Listen to Ted Richer and Paula Langton reading "Answered" (MP3; 1,934kb)

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