Exile in His Own Country

"A collection of highly achieved work...such a talented Welsh exile...whose stance on matters Welsh is both thoughtful and provocative." - Neil Astley, Bloodaxe. "strong, passionate and, like all the best Welsh poetry, tinged with regret and humour without losing an ounce of lyricism." - Christopher Mills, Red Sharks. "...very alive with an alert use of words..." - Anne Lewis-Smith, Envoi Poets (Pembrokeshire). "Many appealing poems in this (collection). "Marked For Life" is a recognisable and chilling scenario and First Year Drama an authentic report from the chalkface...Other poems that struck me as particularly strong were "Welsh Jokes", "Death of a Dictator" and "Favourite".

Also the first section of Torfaen Monologues...A distinct Welsh element...(not without its) ironies" - Harry Chambers, Peterloo Poets. "Superb: some wonderful poetry in this..."Marked For Life" is quite brilliant." - James Sale, Director of the Schools' Poetry Association.

More generally: "I found beautiful things, "Birth of a Human Being" among them.

I also enjoyed the Marked for Life and Welsh sections." - Alec Reid, BBC Radio. "The best poetry of the evening (Poets and Places, King's Lynn Festival 1993) came from Gareth Calway.

He could tell a story and bring to life a particular mood or moment in the space of a few stanzas." - Nikki Albon, Eastern Daily Press. "...brilliant at enterng others' souls - even rock, it seems...really original." - Richard Mayne, "Encounter". "real poetry...characteristically sustained and lyrical...well crafted and readable."- Kevin Bailey, "Haiku Quarterly". "writes with the wisdom and experience of someone twice his age..." - Joan Foreman, EDP. "Pontypool poet Gareth Calway ...by contrast does challenge...crisp, comprehensible and moving ...(his best work) written directly from experence" - Peter Finch, "New Welsh Review". "I felt a kind of affinity...(the poems) were very wholesome, strong and to my tastes.

Simple in the best way, the real way .(I think it's the real way!)...I greatly like the tenacious way (he) works things through. And the language all of a piece." - Ted Hughes.