GLAMOUR AND DAMNATION

By: Chris Wyatt
Date: Wednesday, October 31, 2001

In his new anthology, GLAMOUR AND DAMNATION, gothic poet Regent St. Claire does an elegant job of expressing the beauty in sarcasm and the sarcasm in beauty. This collection seems to cut off slivers of life and moments of time, putting them in formaldehyde for closer examination. St. Claire's world is at once sweet and bitter, wholesome and degenerated, loving and lonely.

Originally I thought that St. Claire's work was what I would imagine Neil Gaiman writing if he were to do a book of poetry. But on second thought, I believe it would be more like if Neil Gaiman's fictional character Sandman were to do a book of poetryheady, macabre, tragic and gloriously lost.

Sometimes amusing, sometimes ponderous, St. Claire's poems run the gambit of emotion. For example, "Karma and the Bad Dog Syndrome" is a scathingly funny little poem that offers a tongue-in-cheek argument on the concept of universal justice, whereas "In the Tongue of the Talking Bed" (my personal favorite of the volume) is a deep, haunting verse about a bed that whispers memories to its owner about a lost lover.

Other high points of the collection include the hilarious "Roadkill Ron" and the humorless "The Monster and the Maker." Also not to be missed is "The Cutting Room Floor," about the disjointed nature of memory, and "Altered States of Grace," which makes stunning connections between worshipfulness and sensuality.

The only real criticism that could be leveled at the book is that it can, at times, take itself too seriously. The back cover features a photo of the author dressed all in black, blood oozing from one hand as he clutches desperately at an electric guitar and gives the camera a Lugosi-like glare. Cool, yeah... but a little bit on the "too much" side as well. The same can be said of a few of the poems, especially the ones that describe the author himself.

Even so, such entries are not too frequent, nor do they disrupt the more subtle poems. GLAMOUR AND DAMNATION can be recommended to poetry adherents; but would also be a good primer for those who are interested in poetry yet new to the form. St. Claire's style is easy and accessible. He doesn't lapse into gratuitous academia for the sake of looking smart, as many modern poets do. This would also be a valuable volume for an aspiring poet to examine, because there is much to admire in St. Claire's unassuming literary presence.

GLAMOUR AND DAMNATION is being released by a smaller publishing house called iUniverse Press, and as such might be harder to find in your local bookstores. If you're having trouble getting a copy, just jump online and check www.iuniverse.com. Support the small presses!

GLAMOUR AND DAMNATION

Grade: A-

Author(s): Regent St. Claire

Publisher: iUniverse Press

Price: $12.95