Different characters populate and haunt this collection. An Italian not feeling on top of the world, a woman dancing naked into a garden, a single mum in a filling station, a boy who takes himself as an hostage.

Davies explores the treacherous, anxious life of the suburbs with an edge of menace, and humour. Strange creatures and uneasy furniture stalk the undergrowth. And who is the nutter in the shrubbery?

'He can conjure a strong poem from even the smallest or seemingly insignificant incidents or situations. Throughout all of his poems a very distinctive voice is becoming more honed and his unusual writing deserves a wider audience.'

Brendan Cleary

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John Davies published his first pamphlet collection The Nutter in the Shrubbery

in 2002. In the same year he won an ArchiTEXTS Award for his first residency

as Shedman (www.shedman.net). He has also received an Arts Council England

personal development award. His poetry has been published in anthologies and

magazines and he has read his work at events and festivals in the UK, Ireland

and Europe. John founded and was director of literary arts organisation

THE SOUTH from 2002-07. Find out more about John Davies.