‘Sublime, precise, darkly foreboding’ – Galatea by Melanie Challenger

These are the words of Harold Bloom, commending Melanie Challenger’s Galatea. It was shortlisted for the 2007 Forward Prize for Best First Collection.

I asked Melanie about her feelings towards being nominated:

How did it feel when you discovered Galatea had been shortlisted?

Naturally, as there are not massive audiences for new poetry, I was most pleased by the idea that this kind of acknowledgement might garner me more readers: readers who would enjoy or resist certain poems, respond in ways both heartwarming and challenging. 
 

What were your emotions on the night of the award?

I do have mixed views about awards, or certainly about the concept of winners. I always feel it’s a shame that we have to think in terms of one book because people write such different kinds of works with very different effects and purpose, and I think it can be difficult for society to decide which they think is most important because we ought to encourage diversity instead. (This might sound like sour grapes…but I don’t mean it to!).

I didn’t go to the awards because I’m intensely private as an individual. But I knew they were going ahead and at least felt pleased that I had been nominated and that poetry is still valued publicly. 
  

How has being shortlisted impacted on your career? 

On a small level, I believe it has brought me more readers and has led onto some opportunities. Far more important than any professional sidelines though is the determination that I think that little bit of focus can instill: the twist of grit to produce something better, to redress one’s failings in the first effort and to care even more about language and poetry than before. 

Buy a copy of Galatea from the Salt online store, complete with 20% off.