Facing the Public

The opening poems of the Cork-born writer's fourth collection draw on stories from her Irish childhood and tales of the impact of the Black and Tans on her family's locality in the 1920s. The heady brew of Irish politics and religion is close to the surface throughout. The title poem captures conversational drama in Martina Evans' most engaging style, familiar to audiences at her successful readings:My mother never asked like a normal person, it was I'm asking you for the last time, I'm imploring you not to go up that road again late for Mass…Martina Evans , poet, novelist and teacher, was born in Cork, the youngest of ten children. She now lives in London with her daughter Liadáin. She has published three books of poetry and three novels.

Martina Evans was born in 1961 in Cork, the youngest of ten children. She moved to London in 1988 and began writing in 1990. As well as three earlier books of poetry - The Iniscarra Bar and Cycle Rest (1995), All Alcoholics Are Charmers (1998) and Can Dentists Be Trusted? (2004) - she has published three novels.