We Have To Leave The Earth

'Jess-Cooke conjures (and there is a sense of enchantment or spellcasting present in the sensual figurative language utilised) precise, evocative imagery to discuss wide-ranging subjects, such as disability, feminism, the environment and motherhood, and creates a sense of travelling through experiences and environments' - Ruth Stacey'The blend of heavenly and prosaic is glorious and terrifying.' - Judy Darley'Poems that are strong, yet empathic; steely, but compassionate. It's an extremely powerful admixture and I urge you to read it.' Buzz Magazine. A brutal and pressing collection, We Have To Leave The Earth tackles gruesome yet important topics throughout her collection. The first collection playfully examines the Viking culture, with a strong temporal focus on ice in the arctic landscape. Jess-Cooke dedicates her next section to the erased voice of early feminist pioneer Josephine Butler, creating a rich history through a first person narrative. The theme of motherhood echoes from this section into the final beautiful collection as Jess-Cooke describes her own tale of motherhood and the perceptions of her autistic daughter.

Carolyn Jess-Cooke is an award-winning poet, academic, editor and novelist published in 23 languages. She is a Senior Lecturer in Creative Writing at the University of Glasgow, and founder of the Stay-at-Home Literary Festival.