Published May 2017. Paperback, 102pp, 9 x 6ins, £10.95 / $18
ISBN 9781848615199 [Download a sample PDF from this book here.]

In Dear Mary poet and painter Rupert Loydell writes about art and life and how they intersect. Fascinated by both renaissance and contemporary painting, he re-invents moments of annunciation in today's world, and revels in the colours and sunshine of Italy. This is a world of wonder and surprise, where aliens abduct the Virgin Mary, 20th century rock singers find themselves collaged together and singing about her, infinite greys (and grays) blur together between other greys, Francis Bacon paints angels, and even the weather forecast predicts the future.

Above all else, this is a book which celebrates language and art, and explores how we navigate the world around us, seen and unseen; how we might wonder, explain, and begin to understand.

“Artist and writer Rupert Loydell brings his accomplished eye, ear, and voice to this book of subtly crafted poems and prose. His loaded brush and carefully chosen words engage with luminous artworks and radiant landscape, and are also wrapped around a deeper mystery that invites, but ultimately defies description.” —Steve Scott

“ Dear Mar y is a thrilling love letter to the way in which meaning inheres in the world and the word. Light-drenched Tuscany is suffused with mysteriously overlaid greys; for Rupert Loydell, it is a place where everything is ‘trying to imply ascension’. Moments of transcendence occur even when ‘We didn’t get to see the angel.’”—Neil Philip

“These pieces are 'flakes of reverence' or gaps for the numinous, gestures towards the missing tones and colours of angels, as Loydell meditates on these Italian icons, seeking whatever is outside the picture frame or beyond the truncated gestures.” —Martin Caseley

“Rupert Loydell has produced consistently interesting and multi-dimensional work for over 25 years now, combining heterodox strands of art, faith, postmodernism, criticism, love of music, wit and humour. There’s a holistic emphasis to his kaleidoscopic work which challenges the idea that the poet has only one voice, a peculiarly parochial (and English) emphasis. Loydell’s soul is both scrupulously honest and generous.” —Jay Ramsay

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