Lardcake
By David McGimpsey
Chosen as a "Best Book for 1996" in the Halifax Mail Star. Now in its second printing. Lardcake is a collection of original and frequently humorous poems that find their inspiration in the world of popular culture. Pleas to the spirit of Elvis Presley, monologues from Elly May ... Read more
Overview
Chosen as a "Best Book for 1996" in the Halifax Mail Star. Now in its second printing. Lardcake is a collection of original and frequently humorous poems that find their inspiration in the world of popular culture. Pleas to the spirit of Elvis Presley, monologues from Elly May Clampett and Darrin Stevens, mock epics about Babe Ruth in the underworld, valedictory speeches to please Oprah, lyrics occasioned by pork products and confessions from somebody who claims to have gone out with Beverly Hills 90210 star Shannen Doherty are all just part of Lardcake's ingredients. A scholar of contemporary culture and literature, the poet is not satisfied with merely satirizing pop icons but in transforming their apparent realities into distinct celebrations of the powers of art and love. The poems, like the elegy for Alan Hale Jr. -- the actor who played the Skipper on Gilligan's Island -- will naturally please pop aficionados but will also impress readers of contemporary poetry with their expressive details.
David McGimpsey
David McGimpsey is the author of five collections of poetry (Lardcake, Dogboy, Hamburger Valley, California, and Sitcom) and one collection of short stories (Certifiable). David has a PhD in English Literature and is the author of the critically-acclaimed and award-winning study Imagining Baseball: America's Pastime and Popular Culture. He is a songwriter and performer - a member of the rock band Puggy Hammer and a local stand-up comedian. His travel writings frequently appear in The Globe and Mail and he writes the 'Sandwich of the Month' column for EnRoute magazine. David McGimpsey currently lives in Montreal and teaches at Concordia University.