About the Book

Sebastian Barker's collection weaves a rich tapestry from the powerful themes that have always been central human how we make our journey through life, how we love those around us, what the nature of belief and of our own mortality is. In the opening sequence, Barker contrasts life's ecstasies with the certainty of loss; in 'The Land of Gold' he travels through the blazing spiritual landscapes of South-West France; while in 'The Tablets of the Bread' he faces the temptations of despair head on. All these themes then receive a masterly summation in 'A Monastery of Light', where Greece becomes the poet's door to redemption and the achieved life.

Recommended for

• Fans of the Romantics
• Philosophy fanatics
• Poetry lovers

About the OKS Author

Sebastian Barker attended King’s in Walpole House from 1958 to 1963. Since leaving King’s, he achieved MAs from The University of East Anglia and The University of Oxford. From there, Sebastian became a British Poet, publishing a total of 19 collections throughout his life. His readers noticed Romantic resemblances in his writing. Alas, he was known to emulate Blake in pen, and Byron in persona.

Sebastian held several influential literary positions. To name a few: he was part of the PEN International executive committee; Chairman of the Poetry Society (1988-92); Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature (1997); and Editor of the London Magazine (2002-08). Within these positions, Sebastian won awards from the Arts Council, the Society of Authors, and the Royal Literary Fund.

The Land of Gold was published in 2013 and is available for purchase on Amazon