Public Dream

By Frances Leviston

Public Dream, Frances Leviston’s first collection of poetry, is one of the most eagerly-awaited debuts in years. Although still in her early twenties, Leviston has already received considerable acclaim for her superbly-crafted and pitch-perfect verse. However, in the apparently effortless balancing of its lyric and metaphysical concerns, in the penetration, range and originality of its thought, Public Dream shows her to possess the maturity to match that skill. This book does more than merely display promise: it announces the arrival of a singular and essential new voice.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Pan Macmillan
• Release date: Sep 4, 2008
• ISBN: 9780330503884

Frances Leviston

Frances Leviston was born in Edinburgh in 1982 and later moved to Sheffield. She read English at St Hilda's College, Oxford, and has an MA in Writing from Sheffield Hallam University. A pamphlet of her work, Lighter, was published in 2004 by Mews Press, and became the PBS Bulletin's Pamphlet Choice for Spring 2005. Her poems have appeared in various magazines and anthologies including New Writing 14, Poetry Review, Poetry London, Ten Hallam Poets and the TLS. She received an Eric Gregory Award in 2006.

Book preview

PUBLIC DREAM

Frances Leviston was born in Edinburgh in 1982 and grew up in Sheffield. She read English at St Hilda’s College, Oxford, and has an MA in Writing from Sheffield Hallam University. She received an Eric Gregory Award in 2006.

PUBLIC DREAM

Frances Leviston

PICADOR

First published 2007 by Picador

This electronic edition published 2008 by Picador

an imprint of Pan Macmillan Ltd

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ISBN 978-0-330-50389-1 in Adobe Reader format

ISBN 978-0-330-50388-4 in Adobe Digital Editions format

ISBN 978-0-330-50403-4 in Microsoft Reader format

ISBN 978-0-330-50390-7 in Mobipocket format

Copyright © Frances Leviston 2007

The right of Frances Leviston to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted by her in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

You may not copy, store, distribute, transmit, reproduce or otherwise make available this publication (or any part of it) in any form, or by any means (electronic, digital, optical, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise), without the prior written permission of the publisher. Any person who does any unauthorized act in relation to this publication may be liable to criminal prosecution and civil claims for damages.

A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.

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for my parents

Acknowledgements are due to the editors of the following publications, in which some of these poems frst appeared: the Frogmore Papers, New Writing 14, Pennine Platform, Poetry London, Poetry Review, The Red Wheelbarrow, the Times Literary Supplement,

Reviews for Public Dream

[jolyonpatten_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A beautiful poem, 'The Head' (I think), appeared in the LRB. It was fascinating, slightly sinister, glowing and very unusual. I read it about 5 times then immediately bought the book. She's not really like anyone else, but I enjoy her. For what that's worth as a recommendation!Being poetry it's always for me a "currently reading" project.