Joolz Sparkes and Hilaire have been collaborating on London Undercurrents for a number of years and I was delighted when it was published by Holland Park Press earlier this year. I wasn’t able to make the launch dates and have keeping an eye on when they would be reading again. I’ve heard both Joolz and Hilaire read some of these poems before and have always enjoyed them. So when I saw they were reading at Clapham Bookshop last night, I hot-footed it up.
London Undercurrents is ‘the hidden histories of London’s unsung heroines, north and south of the river’. Some of the women depicted are real people, others imagined but based on factual histories of particular jobs, workplaces and locations. The book is organised in thematic sections, each introduced by ‘fragments’ from North and South.
I’m looking forward to reading it – it’s coming with me on my reading/writing break next week. But for now, here’s Hilaire reading ‘At 65, Miss Lancaster is still at the wheel’:
Thank you Robyn for this. It was great to hear them live at Clapham Books on Thursday – well worth the scramble through traffic! Cx
Hi Claire – you were there too? I really must get someone to introduce us, I don’t really know what you look like! Sorry to have missed you again. 🙁