AustLit

'Crimson Crop has at its core a series of elegies, several about his late father Bob Rose, and contains new "Catullan" poems - imitations of Catullus that Rose has been writing and publishing since the 1980s.

Parts I and III comprise individual poems, not specifically themed. Part II - the core of the book - comprises a series of elegies and ruminations on death. There are references to the death of Peter's father, Bob Rose (a respected Australian Rules footballer and coach), thus continuing the themes of Peter's bestselling memoir Rose Boys (2001). Part IV comprises fifteen more themed poems in his ongoing series "The Catullan Rag" - a series of satires and love poems in the manner of the great Roman satirist, Catullus. Peter's poetry collection The Catullan Rag (1993) is notorious, in some circles because of its satirising of literary life in Australia.' Source: http://uwap.uwa.edu.au/products/crimson-crop (Sighted 14/10/2016).

'The quality of Australian poetry has never been higher, nor the number of distinctive voices greater. A landmark publication, this collection presents the astonishing achievements of Australian poetry during the last quarter of a century. Over ten years in preparation, gathering over 200 poets and 500 poems, it makes the case for this country's poetry as a broadening of the universal set for all English-speakers. 'Somewhat astonishingly,' the introduction notes, 'and while no-one was looking, Australian poetry has developed a momentum and a critical mass such that it has become one more luminous field in the English-speaking imagination. Increasingly, anyone who seeks to explore the perspectives or music available in English will also have to consider the perspectives and music which have originated here - Australia having turned itself, too, into a place in the mind.' Both survey and critical review, this anthology offers a rare opportunity to explore the major national achievement of contemporary Australian poetry. (Publication summary)'