Kennelly book of judas

The book of judas, the poem sequence for which kennelly is best known,is a response to a contemporary culture in which religion and politics have lost some of their stature. Brendan kennelly, a literature professor at trinity college, has written many, many books of poetry, including one called cromwell, which, like the book of judas. The content consists of conversations between jesus and judas iscariot. Poetry is, above all, a singing art of natural and magical connection because, though it is born out of ones persons solitude, it has the ability to reach out and touch in a humane and warmly illuminating way the solitude, even the loneliness, of others. Kennelly has written more than 20 books of poetry, drama and essays. A prolific and fluent writer, he has more than fifty. Kerry, he was professor of modern literature at trinity college, dublin for over 30 years, and retired from teaching in 2005. I mentioned to kennelly after i had read the book of judas that i had profound difficulties with it. Kennelly followed his shocking epic poem cromwell with the even more notorious book of judas, which topped the irish bestsellers list. Judas is a character that must be disturbing at least some of the time. Another long 400page epic poem, the book of judas, published in 1991, topped the irish bestseller list. The poems below are taken from four of kennellys most ambitious books. It has been suggested that the text derives from an earlier greek version. Click and collect from your local waterstones or get free uk delivery on orders over.

The book of judas, brendan kennelly s 400page epic poem in twelve parts, was the number one bestselling book in ireland. Possible ex library copy, thatll have the markings and stickers associated from the library. The essential brendan kennelly wake forest university press. Publication date 1991 topics irish poetry translations into english, english poetry publisher. Buy the book of judas by brendan kennelly from waterstones today. Kennelly s mission in the poem service, in brendan kennelly s the book cf judas 1991, his main character, judas, says. He avoids intellectual pretension and literary posturing, and his attitude to poetic language could be summed up in the title of one of his epic poems, poetry my arse. Dec 29, 2000 kennelly has written more than 20 books of poetry, drama and essays. Sep 05, 2016 judas kisses jesus christ in the garden of gethsemane. As he does in cromwell with cromwell and buffun, kennelly builds the book of judas around the opposition of his two central characters. Judas by brendan kennelly by hatto fischer judas is a widely acclaimed epic poem by brendan kennelly. Kennelly again used a historical personage as the starting point for a collection of verses in the 1992 publication, the book of judas. Its almost as if brissets behind the smile takes its cue from kennellys book of judas, where judas declares. Brendan kennellys book of judas, a 400page epic poem in twelve parts, became the number one bestselling book in ireland.

The book of judas, brendan kennellys 400page epic poem in twelve parts, was the number one bestselling book in ireland. In his native country kennelly is public property, both popular and controversial, not least for his collections cromwell and the book of judas. When asked by him for an instance, i mentioned what i felt to be the naked hatred of women i. The essential brendan kennelly edited by terence brown and. Brendan kennelly, a literature professor at trinity college, has written many, many books of poetry, including one called cromwell, which, like the book of judas, takes a reviled historic figure. Book of judas around the opposition of his two central characters. Itas college, tarbert, county kerry, and at trinity college, where he edited icarus. In beautification he is cast as a chat show host, in towards dawn an academic, in before my time a terrorist, in riot a priest. Brendan kennelly has denounced the new book about him, behind the smile, by sandrine brisset, as hurtful to both him and his only child, doodle. There are also poems in here that made me relate to judas and to what he found himself doing betraying christ. His latest poetry books from bloodaxe are the essential brendan kennelly 2011 and reservoir voices 2009. Truth behind gospel of judas revealed in ancient inks. Brendan kennelly is one of irelands most distinguished and best loved poets, as well as a renowned teacher and cultural commentator.

It provides a convincing outline of the poets growth from an early lyric genius who was sensitive to discordance into the epic poet who, as the editors observe, combined the note of awestruck lyricism with notes of disgust. The book of judas is almost 400 pages of poems, most of which are from judas perspective, but also which get into the hearts and minds of modern people, many of them irish, many of them dubliners. Kerry, and was educated at the interdenominational st. Kennelly s poetry can be scabrous, downtoearth and colloquial. He continued to worm his way into kennelly s imagination long after the original book was finished, and the book of judas, brendan kennelly s 400page epic poem in twelve parts, was the number one bestselling book. Until the end of the world is my favorite song on my favorite u2 album, so i wanted to check out this book. In 1992 a 400page book of poetry was the number one. The book of judas a poem by brendan kennelly by brendan. Brendan kennelly s book of judas, a 400page epic poem in twelve parts, became the number one bestselling book in ireland. Like cromwell, the book of judas is a lengthy meditation on evil. The first sixtysix pages of the book provide a generous selection of kennellys work b. Until the end of the world the song was written at the same time as one of irelands greatest poets, brendan kennelly, was writing his great book of judas, a series of poems about the. Spine creases, wear to binding and pages from reading. Irish arses brief poems by brendan kennelly brief poems.

The library of trinity college dublin dublin, ireland. The book of judas bloodaxe books,1991 is an epic poem of nearly. In his native country kennelly is public property, both popular and controversial, not least for his collections cromwell and the book of judas both of which. The book of judas is an epic achievement and as over the top as the subject deserves. May contain limited notes, underlining or highlighting that does affect the text.

Kennellys epic poem, the book of judas, was published in 1991. Kerry, kennelly was professor of modern literature at trinity college, dublin for thirty years. All these are available separately from bloodaxe, the latter shortened to the little book of judas. Whats amazing about the book aside from the poetry itself, which is wow is that kennelly essentially claims judas for ireland. The only copy of the gospel of judas known to exist is a coptic language text that has been carbon dated to ad 280, plus or minus 60 years. Their albumin particular, the song until the end of the worldexplores many of the same themes as kennelly does in the book of judas. Given that it includes late 2nd century theology, it is thought to have been composed in the 2nd century by gnostic christians, rather than the historic judas himself. The gospel of judas is a fragmented coptic egyptianlanguage text that portrays judas in a far more sympathetic light than did the gospels that made it into the bible. Highlights include a beguiling poem, the gift, which uses a directness of language and speech to coax beauty out of the everyday. Amos ozs novel considers the role of the infamous apostle as part of a novel set in postwar jerusalem. Timothy brendan kennelly born 17 april 1936 is an irish poet, novelist, and academic.