What is the Polari Prize?
The Polari Prize is the UK’s only LGBTQ+ book prize. This year, I was delighted to be contacted to be offered books from the shortlist to review. There is a childrens and YA category as well as a first book prize along with the main prize. Founded in 2011, this year is the award’s eleventh year. Founded by author and activist Paul Burston, the awards celebrate LGBTQ+ books, fiction and non-fiction. This year, the awards will take place at the British Library on the 15th November.
These Great Athenians
Physical books will always, for me, be a far nicer experience than scrolling through ebooks. Simply flicking through the beautifully coloured edges of The Great Athenians: Retold Passages for Seldom Heard Voices is a wonderful experience.
Is it a myth? Is it poetry? It’s both.
I think, in the technicolour of hindsight, one of the things I enjoyed most about my story book of Greek myths was that all the people in them were, like me, at odds with the world in which they found themselves.
The book is a poetic retelling of Homer’s Odyssey, focusing on the women’s voices.
Verse matched with design
Flick through the pages and each voice has its own coloured edging, leading you to each woman’s story. Stop and read, and you discover that the beauty continues past the design and into the words.
Like ancient stories, Valentine Carter has used the poetic form to tell the stories of the women in a way that flows so naturally. And each voice feels unique, different. Creating those individual voices is a real skill and the rhythm of the writing really helps to lift the voices from the page to being characters, with life experiences.
Would I read more?
Because of timings and editing work, I simply don’t have time to review, in depth, all of the books on the shortlist. Maybe, in time, I will but by reading a short section, I thought I would be able to ask myself if I would want to read more of this book.
I don’t know much about Homer’s Odyssey. I probably should. Valentine Carter’s book has definitely inspired me to find out more and then to reread These Great Athenians with a far deeper understanding. I look forward to seeing the women again.
These Great Athenians by Valentine Carter is published by Twenty Seven. It is shortlisted for the Polari First Book Prize. Find out more about the books shortlisted for the Polari Prize and book your tickets for the award event.
Nick (he/him) is an experienced professional editor and proofreader, specialising in LGBTQ+ writing.
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