Bøger udgivet af PORTABLE POETRY

The Roman poet and philosopher Titus Lucretius Carus better known as Lucretius was born in approximately 99 BCE. Much of the events in his life are unknown. What is known is that is is the author of one of the great classics of poetry. The epic didactic poem in hexameters, On the Nature of Things (De Rerum Natura). Within its six books Lucretius makes a bold sweep through the scientific theories of the Greek philosopher Epicurus in poetic form to give man a firm base from which to attain a peace and stability from all of the competing elements in society, life and the heavens. The poem was a significant influence on the Latin Augustan poets, particularly Virgil (in his Aeneid and Georgics) and Horace. With the fall of the Empire the work disappeared. It was only in 1417 that a copy was re-discovered in a monastery in Germany and it once more became an important influence, this time in the Enlightenment era. In its scope and breadth it achieves much, both as a purveyor of scientific principles but also as a majestic poetry classic.

John Davidson was born at Barrhead, East Renfrewshire on 11th April 1857. In 1862 his family moved to Greenock and there he began his education at Highlanders' Academy. Davidson would now spend many years at school and the beginnings of a career in various industries before gaining employment in various schools. By now literature was a large part of his activities and his first published work was 'Bruce, A Chronicle Play' in 1886. Four other plays quickly followed including the somewhat brilliant pantomimic 'Scaramouch in Naxos' (1889). With his reputation gradually providing an income he was also able to explore his true medium; Verse. 'In a Music Hall and Other Poems' (1891) together with 'Fleet Street Eclogues' (1893) were ample proof that he possessed a quite rare, genuine and distinctive poetic gift. Davidson now turned further and further towards verse. In 1894 he published his most popular volume, 'Ballads and Songs' (1894), and this was followed by a further 'Fleet Street Eclogues' (Second Series) (1896) and by 'New Ballads' (1897) and 'The Last Ballad' (1899). As the new century dawned Davidson was hard at work on a series of 'Testaments', in which he gave definite expression to his philosophy and were published over a seven year period; 'The Testament of a Vivisector' (1901), 'The Testament of a Man Forbid' (1901), 'The Testament of an Empire Builder' (1902), and 'The Testament of John Davidson' (1908). However, on 23rd March 1909, with his finances in ruins, the onset of cancer and profound hopelessness and clinical depression he left his house for the last time. His body was only found on September 18th by some local fishermen.

John Bunyan was born in 1628. His fame emanates from the allegorical book The Pilgrim's Progress. A classic of the English language. A committed non-conformist Bunyan's life covered two seminal periods in English history: The English Civil War and the Restoration of Charles II. He fought in the former and was subject to over 12 years in prison during the latter. Whilst this caused great hardship, even more so one expects to his young wife and their children, his spirit and determination to remain dutifully worshipping of his faith was undoubted and resolute. It is with particular pleasure that we bring you perhaps a side to his life that has not been fully appreciated. His poetry. Across their verses and number are works of quite remarkable thought. John Bunyan died in 1688, just short of his 60th birthday and is buried in Bunhill Fields in London.

Luís Vaz de Camões, without doubt, remains to this day the Portuguese language's foremost poet and has mentored many with his work through the centuries and wherever the Portuguese Empire or its Sailors reached, or its language spoken - from Brazil and Africa, through Portugal itself to India and the Far East. During his lifetime the Portuguese Empire, grew rapidly and this was, perhaps, a Golden Age for Portugal in many areas. His lyrical poetry showed such mastery that, for many, his talents are the equal of Shakespeare, Homer or Dante. With lines as encompassing and truthful as "em várias flamas variamente ardia" ("I burnt myself at many flames") it is hard to argue against. Probably born in 1524 it is unknown as to where. There is a statue dedicated to him in Constanzia which together with Lisbon, Coimbra or Alenquer also rival as his birthplace. What is known is that he was an only child from a fading family of the old Aristocracy. His father went to India to pursue his fortune and died in Goa. His mother later remarried and for Camões early life was financially comfortable. He was educated within the Catholic church and then attended the University of Coimbra giving him access to a wide range of classical and contemporary literature. Aside from his native Portuguese he read in Latin and Italian and wrote poetry in Spanish. What can be acknowledged from his work was that Camões was a man of great learning and widely read. He was able to use that knowledge and influence to write beautiful and lasting poetry. Camões was a romantic, and it was rumoured, fell in love with a lady in waiting to the Queen and also Princess Maria. Possibly due to indiscretions surrounding these love affairs, he was exiled from Lisbon and enlisted in the overseas militia where he lost the sight in his right eye and eventually returned to Lisbon. He now led a bohemian lifestyle and a fracas resulted in him injuring a member of the royal stables. He was imprisoned but his mother successfully pleaded for his release which involved paying a large fine and serving three years in militia in the Orient after which he took up a post in Macau. During this time he was shipwrecked and some romantics claim that he swam ashore whilst holding aloft the manuscript of his unfinished epic; Os Lusíadas, the poetical tale of how Vasco da Gama discovered India. When finally back in Lisbon, in 1570, he finished and then published two years later, 'Os Lusiadas', the masterpiece for which his poetic talent has deservedly been recognised. In July of that year he was granted a royal pension, probably in recompense for both his service in India and his having written Os Lusíadas. Luis Vaz de Camões died in 1580 on 10th June, coincidentally Portugal's national day, and is buried in the Jeronimos Monastery in Lisbon.

John Bunyan was born in 1628. His fame emanates from the allegorical book The Pilgrim's Progress. A classic of the English language. A committed non-conformist Bunyan's life covered two seminal periods in English history: The English Civil War and the Restoration of Charles II. He fought in the former and was subject to over 12 years in prison during the latter. Whilst this caused great hardship, even more so one expects to his young wife and their children, his spirit and determination to remain dutifully worshipping of his faith was undoubted and resolute. It is with particular pleasure that we bring you perhaps a side to his life that has not been fully appreciated. His poetry. Across their verses and number are works of quite remarkable thought. John Bunyan died in 1688, just short of his 60th birthday and is buried in Bunhill Fields in London.

Luís Vaz de Camões, without doubt, remains to this day the Portuguese language's foremost poet and has mentored many with his work through the centuries and wherever the Portuguese Empire or its Sailors reached, or its language spoken - from Brazil and Africa, through Portugal itself to India and the Far East. During his lifetime the Portuguese Empire, grew rapidly and this was, perhaps, a Golden Age for Portugal in many areas. His lyrical poetry showed such mastery that, for many, his talents are the equal of Shakespeare, Homer or Dante. With lines as encompassing and truthful as "em várias flamas variamente ardia" ("I burnt myself at many flames") it is hard to argue against. Probably born in 1524 it is unknown as to where. There is a statue dedicated to him in Constanzia which together with Lisbon, Coimbra or Alenquer also rival as his birthplace. What is known is that he was an only child from a fading family of the old Aristocracy. His father went to India to pursue his fortune and died in Goa. His mother later remarried and for Camões early life was financially comfortable. He was educated within the Catholic church and then attended the University of Coimbra giving him access to a wide range of classical and contemporary literature. Aside from his native Portuguese he read in Latin and Italian and wrote poetry in Spanish. What can be acknowledged from his work was that Camões was a man of great learning and widely read. He was able to use that knowledge and influence to write beautiful and lasting poetry. Camões was a romantic, and it was rumoured, fell in love with a lady in waiting to the Queen and also Princess Maria. Possibly due to indiscretions surrounding these love affairs, he was exiled from Lisbon and enlisted in the overseas militia where he lost the sight in his right eye and eventually returned to Lisbon. He now led a bohemian lifestyle and a fracas resulted in him injuring a member of the royal stables. He was imprisoned but his mother successfully pleaded for his release which involved paying a large fine and serving three years in militia in the Orient after which he took up a post in Macau. During this time he was shipwrecked and some romantics claim that he swam ashore whilst holding aloft the manuscript of his unfinished epic; Os Lusíadas, the poetical tale of how Vasco da Gama discovered India. When finally back in Lisbon, in 1570, he finished and then published two years later, 'Os Lusiadas', the masterpiece for which his poetic talent has deservedly been recognised. In July of that year he was granted a royal pension, probably in recompense for both his service in India and his having written Os Lusíadas. Luis Vaz de Camões died in 1580 on 10th June, coincidentally Portugal's national day, and is buried in the Jeronimos Monastery in Lisbon.