The Erotics of God by Barker, Sebastian

A series of visionary meditations on the theology of desire, the lineaments of the sublime and the beautiful, the mortal and the divine. The title sequence of The Erotics of God is a series of meditations on the theology of desire and the value of eroticism. Sebastian Barker stands in the tradition which includes Patrick Kavanagh, Blake, Bernard of Clairvaux, Origen, and The Song of Songs. He considers the immanence in sexual love of the beautiful and the sublime, the mortal and the sacred. In the second part, Spirit of the River, he sets art and friendship, which draw us towards "the crazy colours of the sun", against "the termite men", who drive us towards "the abyss". The Erotics of God is a stunning and original collection, which combines Barker's distinctive lyricism and scholarship with common sense and wit. It completes his visionary trilogy, Damnatio Memoriae: Erased from Memory (Enitharmon, 2004) and The Matter of Europe (Menard Press, 2005).

"A brilliant and original voice." - Harold Pinter

"A genuine and delicate poet." - John Heath-Stubbs

‘The Erotics of God continues Sebastian Barker's immensely thought-provoking and perilous pilgrimage through Western Philosophy, with the great thinkers of the past as his mentors and the reality of temporal power as the enemy... someone to engage with, argue with and enjoy.’ — Sofia

‘This little book is vastly engaging... entrancing; ultimately enlightening and beautiful. — Dream Catcher

‘Lyricism, scholarship, common sense and wit’ — Terrible Work

‘Compelling humanity… beautiful and moving poems’ — South

Some comments on Damnatio Memoriae: "an intense and remarkable book." - Les Murray

"This book more than confirms Sebastian Barker as one of the few living poets worth reading." - Robert Nye

"Tugging at one from the very deepest of spiritual currents." - John Greening

"Recommended unreservedly." - Glyn Pursglove

Sebastian Barker has worked as a carpenter, a fireman, a book cataloguer at Sotheby's, and a writer in residence. From 1988 to 1992 he was chair of the Poetry Society. He currently edits The London Magazine. His books of poetry include The Hand in the Well (Enitharmon, 1996), Guarding the Border: Selected Poems (Enitharmon, 1992) and The Dream of Intelligence (Littlewood Arc, 1992). He is married to the poet and teacher Hilary Davies.

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