Black Country
Black Country by Liz Berry, published by Chatto & Windus in 2014, is a poetry collection that spans 60 pages and is presented in English. This debut work explores themes of home and identity through vivid imagery and rich dialect, capturing the essence of the Black Country. The poems journey from the enchantment of childhood experiences to more profound reflections on love and life, showcasing Berry’s unique voice and perspective.
Readers will find a transformation of the ordinary into the extraordinary, as Berry’s characters and settings come alive with energy and detail. The collection features a blend of personal and communal experiences, drawing on the sounds and textures of the West Midlands. With its focus on both the magic of youth and the complexities of adult life, Black Country invites readers to engage with the nuances of memory and place, making it a significant contribution to contemporary poetry.
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WINNER OF THE FORWARD PRIZE BEST FIRST COLLECTION 2014
*PBS Recommendation 2014*
‘When I became a bird, Lord, nothing could not stop me…’
In Black Country, Liz Berry takes flight- to Wrens Nest, Gosty Hill, Tipton-on-Cut; to the places of home. The poems move from the magic of childhood – bostin fittle at Nanny’s, summers before school – into deeper, darker territory- sensual love, enchanted weddings, and the promise of new life.
In Berry’s hands, the ordinary is transformed- her characters shift shapes, her eye is unusual, her ear attuned to the sounds of the Black Country, with ‘vowels ferrous as nails, consonants / you could lick the coal from.’ Ablaze with energy and full of the rich dialect of the West Midlands, this is an incandescent debut from a poet of dazzling talent and verve.
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