Dr. Mephisto is in the form of a long sequence of poems. It traces Mephistopheles as he ranges freely through time and space, at times a laconic observer, at others a thuggish participant, but always a presence wherever there is conflict and suffering and whenever there is work to be done. Far from being oppressive, this is an exciting and highly original work, whose exhilarating pace is set by Emery’s innovative use of language and form, and whose acerbic political edge keeps the vision sharp and fresh. Compelling, hard-hitting, and grimly funny, Dr Mephisto will be remembered long after being read, and a significant new poetic voice will have been recognised.
Chris Emery was born in 1963 in Manchester. He has published four collections of poetry, a writer ’s guide, an anthology of art and poems, and edited selections of Emily Brontë, Keats and Rossetti. He works in publishing and lives in Norfolk.
ContentsAcknowledgementsThe PendulumThe GiftThe LevitationHermes LivesMephisto SleepsThe Evocation Speech of AsmodayUndergroundThe FlightThe BurialThe EndSebastiãoKöpfeMephisto’s PocketsThe MomentThe ScourgeThe HippogriffThe CrucifixionMephisto Sweeps the DesertMephisto RedivivusMephisto Deals the TarotThe PrayerShulamithThe MotherLullaby To Tease Contrariwise Boom BallastMattress ThoughtUdder MusicTransformerExterminatorPandemoniumCleavingAriadneQuoitMelatoninZionDreckShulamith’s Night SongShulamith’s End SongDream BunionsBucket ElegyGerminatorGeneratorDrum SongZero Start ScenarioNotes
Chris Emery’s Dr. Mephisto lets the Devil have a little fun and reminds me that eternal damnation can be a Godsend.
