P. J. Kavanagh était un poète, un prosateur et un chroniqueur dont l'œuvre explore les connexions humaines et la recherche de sens dans le quotidien. Sa poésie, souvent décrite comme des poèmes substituts, se caractérise par une observation aiguë et un ton réfléchi. L'engagement de Kavanagh envers diverses formes d'art et expériences de voyage informe sa prose, tissant l'histoire personnelle avec des contextes culturels et historiques plus larges. Son écriture excelle à trouver des vérités profondes dans les moments ordinaires, offrant aux lecteurs à la fois du réconfort et des sujets de contemplation.
The sympathies of Vaughan and Traherne, the earth-love of Edward Thomas, the wit of Louis MacNeice, are three of the many currents that run through the verse of P.J. Kavanagh. Seven collections are included in this volume, which traces the poet through 35 years.
Written with a poet's precision, The Perfect Stranger is a funny, absorbing and brilliantly portrayed rite of passage. Driving the narrator is a desire to recount the effect of a singular young woman; the love of her and the loss of her.
The narrative chronicles the diverse and tumultuous early life of poet P.J. Kavanagh, spanning various locations from a holiday camp to international cities and a battlefield. His journey appears disjointed until a transformative encounter with Sally, described as 'the perfect stranger,' brings clarity and significance to his experiences. This meeting serves as a pivotal moment, reshaping his understanding of his past and guiding him towards a deeper connection with life.