A Swan's Neck on the Butcher's Block

The new collection from one of Scotland's most original voices.

Jenni Fagan converses with the poets of the past; through them, she communes with demons and explores a world that is continually at odds with itself.

The poet voyages, as ever, on the outskirts, calling out the nuances of class, of care, of misogyny and brutality. Yet even here, too, in her response, there is always love, humour, hope and defiance.

From one of Scotland's most original voices, this collection places the poet's life under the microscope. Each line brims with verve and wit and absolutely soars. It is, at once, heartbreaking and haunting, visceral and challenging and full of raw passion. These poems sing like only someone who has traversed the most arduous roads, pen in hand, can.



Jenni Fagan was born in Scotland. A published poet and novelist, she has won awards from Creative Scotland, Dewar Arts, Scottish Screen and Scottish Book Trust among others, and has twice been nominated for the Pushcart Prize. Jenni was selected as one of Granta's Best Young British Novelists after the publication of her debut novel, The Panopticon, which was shortlisted for the Desmond Elliott Prize and the James Tait Black Prize. Her adaptation of The Panopticon was staged by the National Theatre of Scotland to great acclaim. The Sunlight Pilgrims, her second novel, was shortlisted for the Royal Society of Literature Encore Award and the Saltire Fiction Book of the Year Award and saw her win Scottish Author of the Year at the Herald Culture Awards. She lives in Edinburgh with her son.



'tender, witty and visceral, finally a new collection from the critically acclaimed poet Jenni Fagan'



'The mercurial spirit behind Luckenbooth and Hex delivers a transfixing collection of poetry, mining themes of identity, place and love'



'A brilliant poetry collection which completely blew me away, focusing on the emotional impact of abuse but still managing to be hopeful and uplifting'



'ranging brilliantly across themes from the deeply personal to the fiercely political; and linking both worlds with an intensity that offers a rare depth of feeling, and a searing truthfulness, about how it feels to live in our time'