Real Boys

Author: Stewart, Thomas

Poetry

Published on 1 August 2024 by Birlinn General (Polygon An Imprint of Birlinn Limited) in the United Kingdom.

A remarkable debut from a promising new poet.

In his debut collection, Real Boys, Thomas Stewart examines the death of his father and explores questions of grief, guilt, mental health, identity, sexuality and masculinity. As these poems unfold, a hallway of mirrors is created. Through the lens of father-son relationships, cinema, art and Welsh mythology are expanded and rethought. This collection grapples with what it means to be a father, a son and a self. Subverting the notions of gender, Stewart addresses both the damage of old stereotypes and the passage of generational trauma, questioning how we might change.

'A wonderful meditation on the language of grief, want, lust and hope' – Jenni Fagan'A beautiful and wistful collection which wrangles with life’s ample grief and heartache' – Andrés N. Ordorica'These poems are a revelation. I took great comfort from Thomas Stewart’s collection' – Lotte Jeffs