Superlative

About the Book

Superlative depicts the expectations and uncertainties that are at the forefront of life at the end of the twentieth-century and into the contemporary moment. This impressive volume of verse utilises traditional ideologies and forms and yet, at the same time, it also establishes a unique, postmodern style that is cutting and opinionated - setting the poetry a league ahead of all other modern verse.

There is a multitude of unparalleled themes that are confronted in this 100-plus collection of verse, alongside established forms and topics. The list, ranging from life to death and ambition to failure, is too varied and extensive to list in its entirety. Humour is a primary objective of the book and one that is recurrent; one fantastic example, The damage is already done, basks in its own self-glory and is truly postmodern in its awareness of its own aptitude and magnitude. Love poems are prevalent too within the collection, although this is not to say that all of the love poetry is traditional: The last ounce, Modern day love, and Oh don't get pissed again reject the style and content of the canonical love poem for something a little more postmodern. As well as a variation in themes, forms - both traditional and original - also vary to best depict or satirise the situation. For example, A child for the millennium uses free verse and elaborate language to parody its content (that is, the degenerate youth culture). The result is that, ironically, the uneducated youth is unable to comprehend the issues that are in fact so pertinent to their lives, as is the case in 'real' life also.

This book is guaranteed to taunt you, haunt you, and leave you questioning your position in the contemporary situations that the author so ingeniously presents.

About the Author

Natalie Kristina Goldstraw was born on August 28th 1977 in Stoke-on-Trent, England, where she lives today with her husband and two children. After years of successful modelling, Natalie married in 1999 and decided to return to university after a five year break from studying 'A' levels. She successfully completed a degree in English in July 2002, obtaining first class honours, while having her two children in two academic years. She is currently completing a PhD in Irish literature at Staffordshire University, and she hopes to have her first novel completed before she emigrates to Canada in 2008. Her ambition is to become a novelist, living in relative obscurity with her family on some remote Canadian ranch.