Stuart Laycock

Zone Stuart Laycock

The poems in Zone commemorate the dead and wounded of the wars in Bosnia-Herzegovina in the 1990s. The ironies of subverted signs, the contrasts of peace and war zones, the uncertainty of life for the poet and for the innocents, young and old, caught in the deadly conflict, are themes re-lived in the poems. In sardonic or humorous observation, in anger and disbelief, in joy at being alive, and in language itself, human feeling is celebrated and deaths mourned. These compassionate and perceptive poems are accompanied by photos that are stills from video film taken by the poet. Stuart Laycock studied Classics at Cambridge. He has written history books including All the Countries We've Ever Invaded and has also been a writer in advertising and marketing. Over a period of three years during the Bosnian War he took part in seven aid missions to the country and he continued to visit Former Yugoslavia on aid missions long after the war. 'So incredibly poignant and moving' Sir Nick Young, former charity Chief Executive 'Laycock is especially good at describing the bleak details of a landscape transformed by war" Andy Croft, Morning Star, February 27-28, 2016 'Unsentimental compassion', 'searing', 'uniquely authentic and heartfelt' Nick Cooke, London Grip, May 2016