The Last Custodian
Published on 24. June 2021
Book
Paperback/Softback
80 pages
978-1-913958-07-7 (ISBN)
Description
A paraplegic wakes to find he is the sole survivor of an unknown apocalypse. He decides to survive and spends a year navigating the empty motorways of England to see if he really is the only one left alive. He sets off with only his wheelchair and enough food and medical supplies to last a week. To live beyond that he must adapt and scavenge. Told through a daily account of poems he begins to question his own identity, whether you are disabled if there is no-one to be compared to and what does it mean to want to move forwards.
Reviews / Votes
A compelling and formally inventive collection of poems that is also a sweeping story, Stephen Lightbown's The Last Custodian chronicles crisis, and questions our ideas of memory, survival. When towns become "laden crematoriums," when tragedy takes everything, at that last moment, last stand: there is still a music. "I have to hear a sound," writes the poet, "even if it's played / to photographs". Coming as it does, in this moment of global pandemic, THE LAST CUSTODIAN will touch many a reader with its unrelenting, questioning, echoing voice. A moving, inimitable book. --Ilya Kaminsky, author of Deaf Republic and Dancing in OdessaMore details
Language
English
Place of publication
Bristol
United Kingdom
Product notice
Paperback (UK-A)
Dimensions
Height: 198 mm
Width: 129 mm
Thickness: 5 mm
Weight
108 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-913958-07-7 (9781913958077)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Person
Stephen Lightbown is a Blackburn born, Bristol based poet and disability rights champion. Paralysed following an accident in 1996 when he was 16 Stephen uses his poems to give a voice to his disability. He has spoken at events across the UK and at festivals such as Shambala, Womad, Verve Poetry Festival and Lyra Bristol Poetry Festival. In addition, Stephen has read internationally in San Antonio, Texas. His poems have been widely anthologised and The Last Custodian is Stephen's second poetry collection.