The Battle of Berlin Zoo

David Gill is a well-known British poet whose previous collections include Men Without Evenings and The Pagoda. This is a large collection, chosen by the author, of his personal favourites. Sometimes his penchant for personal reminiscence recalls John Betjeman; but his flare for the surprising metaphor and simile have more in common with Ted Hughes, while the sardonic sense of humour has been compared to that of Philip Larkin.