📖 Overview
Best Australian Poems 2013 is an anthology that presents poetry selections curated by editor Lisa Gorton. The collection features works from both established and emerging Australian poets published during that year.
The poems span multiple styles and forms, from free verse to traditional structures, covering themes of landscape, relationships, memory, and national identity. Contributors include writers from across Australia's regions and territories.
This edition continues Black Inc.'s annual series showcasing contemporary Australian poetry. Gorton's selection process focused on work that appeared in journals, magazines, and newspapers throughout 2013.
The collection reflects broader conversations about place, belonging, and the evolution of poetic expression in modern Australia. Through varied voices and perspectives, it captures a moment in the country's literary development.
👀 Reviews
There are not enough internet reviews to create a summary of this book. Instead, here is a summary of reviews of Lisa Gorton's overall work:
Limited reader reviews are available online for Lisa Gorton's works, reflecting her relatively small but dedicated readership.
Readers appreciate:
- Complex poetic imagery in "Hotel Hyperion"
- The detailed architectural descriptions in "The Life of Houses"
- Her academic approach to poetry that draws from historical references
- The layered metaphors and precise language choices
Common criticisms:
- Poetry can be too abstract or intellectually dense
- Some readers find her work requires multiple readings to grasp
- Narrative pacing in "The Life of Houses" described as slow by some readers
Ratings:
- Goodreads: "The Life of Houses" averages 3.4/5 stars (fewer than 100 ratings)
- Poetry collections have limited ratings on major platforms
- Most reviews appear in academic journals rather than consumer review sites
One reader on Goodreads noted: "Her attention to domestic spaces creates an almost architectural poetry." Another commented: "Beautiful writing but requires patience and concentration."
📚 Similar books
The Best of Australian Poetry 2021 by Sarah Holland-Batt and Melinda Smith
This anthology presents contemporary Australian poets exploring themes of landscape, identity, and cultural memory through diverse poetic forms.
Black Inc. Poetry Collection by Robert Adamson The collection captures Australian voices across generations with focus on nature, urban life, and personal narratives.
Contemporary Australian Poetry by Martin Langford, Judith Beveridge, Judy Johnson, and David Musgrave This comprehensive anthology maps the evolution of Australian poetry through works from 1990 to the present.
Sun Music: New and Selected Poems by Judith Beveridge The collection presents Australian perspectives through detailed observations of nature, Buddhist philosophy, and human relationships.
Thirty Australian Poets by Felicity Plunkett This compilation showcases poets born after 1968 who reshape traditional Australian themes through modern poetic expressions.
Black Inc. Poetry Collection by Robert Adamson The collection captures Australian voices across generations with focus on nature, urban life, and personal narratives.
Contemporary Australian Poetry by Martin Langford, Judith Beveridge, Judy Johnson, and David Musgrave This comprehensive anthology maps the evolution of Australian poetry through works from 1990 to the present.
Sun Music: New and Selected Poems by Judith Beveridge The collection presents Australian perspectives through detailed observations of nature, Buddhist philosophy, and human relationships.
Thirty Australian Poets by Felicity Plunkett This compilation showcases poets born after 1968 who reshape traditional Australian themes through modern poetic expressions.
🤔 Interesting facts
📖 The 2013 collection features 114 poems selected from more than 1,000 submissions
🏆 Lisa Gorton, the editor, is herself a celebrated Australian poet who won the Victorian Premier's Literary Award for Poetry
🌟 The anthology includes both established poets and emerging voices, reflecting the diverse landscape of contemporary Australian poetry
📚 This edition is part of the "Best Australian" series, which has been documenting Australian literary culture since 1998
🖋️ The poems were sourced from literary journals, magazines, and newspapers published throughout Australia during 2013, creating a snapshot of that year's poetic zeitgeist