Triumph of Cancer

Chris McCabe’s work crosses artforms and genres including poetry, fiction, non-fiction, drama and visual art. His work has been shortlisted for the Ted Hughes Award and the Republic of Consciousness Prize. His latest poetry collection, The Triumph of Cancer, was a Poetry Book Society Recommendation. He is the editor of Poems from the Edge of Extinction: An Anthology of Poetry in Endangered Languages. His first novel, Dedalus, is a sequel to Ulysses, his second, Mud, a version of the legend of Orpheus and Eurydice set underneath Hampstead Heath. He works as the National Poetry Librarian at Southbank Centre’s National Poetry Library

'At once personal and ecumenical. The language constantly subtracts from the physical world, as you're made acutely aware of a thing transmuting. Beneath the fear, loneliness, bravado, ranking and fame, what McCabe uncovers is a profound human need to connect and be loved at a time of overwhelming crisis.' Anthony Anaxagorou, Poetry Review'McCabe channels his poetic energy, his humour, intellect and memories into understanding, exposing and therefore facing down a disease which has claimed too many victims. In this, he helps us to do the same.' Maria Apichella, Poetry London'It’s a collection that’s as bold and personal as its title suggests, containing elegies for his father and explorations of loss and illness, interweaved with history, modernity and politics. It’s a powerful and emotive read, and is shot through with McCabe’s relish of language and syntactical playfulness. The last line of the collection starts with ‘Flick light, light flicker’, and ultimately this collection is a flicker of light – vulnerable, but also illuminating and hopeful.' John Canfield, Poetry School Books of the Year'McCabe’s elegies for his father, and for famous poets struck down by cancer, push poetic language to map and mirror what happens to the body when cancer invades it ... [McCabe] tests the role of art in helping overcome trauma for the sufferer and the bereaved. Varying linguistic registers in the collection face cancer head-on with dark humour.' Molly Moss, The London Magazine'Ambitious, lyrical ... modern poetry at its best' Jennie Byrne, VersopolisRecommended by book vlogger Jen Campbell