Decadence
Thuy On
Funny, clever and keenly observed, Decadence is a profound musing on literature and language, that deftly skewers the would-be gatekeepers of verse. With this second collection, Thuy On has cemented herself as a vibrant, unique and captivating new voice in Australian poetry. – MAXINE BENEBA CLARKE
In Decadence, Thuy On indulges in her love of language, assembling a unique erotics of word and punctuation, showcasing a poetry that is pure—in being about itself—but also powerfully seductive. As the poet herself puts it, this is ‘art laid bare’, performing how language works as language but also as a window onto those dark, human mysteries of being and feeling. Indeed, if On builds such a brilliantly decadent mansion out of poetry, exploiting striking imagery and playful wit, it is ultimately to provide a kind of refuge, ‘lest the cave of night swallows you.’ – MARIA TAKOLANDER
Thuy On’s poems are always wry, epicurean and defiant, and this book underlines her unique place in Australian poetry. Literate yet disarmingly unpretentious, wildly playful yet leavened with complex feeling, Decadence is a surreptitious delight. – ANDY JACKSON
Thuy On’s Decadence is a thrilling and wry evisceration of poetry gatekeeping on this continent.
- Awards
-
Shortlisted for the 2023 Stella prize
- Release
- Jul-2022
- ISBN
- 9781760802233
- RRP (AUD)
- $24.99
- Pages
- 100
- Format
- Paperback
- Category
- Poetry
Thuy On
Thuy On is an arts journalist, editor, critic, and poet. She’s currently Reviews Editor and writer for online publication, ArtsHub. Turbulence (UWAP 2020) was her debut collection of poetry. Decadence, her second collection, was published by UWAP in 2022 and longlisted for the Stella Prize in 2023.
UWA Publishing
UWA Publishing (UWAP) shares stories, research and education with the world to encourage thought, inspire action and create and connect with engaged communities. Award-winning fiction, poetry, non-fiction and scholarly works illustrate our strength and diversity in a modern university.
