Description
All the Lost Battles
Book Summary
All the Lost Battles is a collection of poems that explores the duality between the official and the alternative, the visible and the hidden. Joaquín Juan Penalva, a poet with a solid body of work, offers a piece that serves as a counterpoint to his previous book, Hosts of an Infinite Defeat, inviting the reader to discover the verses that remained on the "B-side" of his lyrical output. A poetic journey through memory, defeat, and resistance.
What is it about?
The poet conceives his work like a vinyl record or a cassette tape, where there is an official A-side and a B-side with alternative content. Originally, All the Lost Battles was intended to be the A-side, but publishing circumstances delayed its release, making it the B-side to Hosts of an Infinite Defeat. This collection thus gathers the verses that would have initially accompanied those of his previous work, creating a dialogue between both books. Through reflective poetry laden with cultural references, the author addresses themes such as memory, the passage of time, loss, and the search for meaning in a fragmented world.
Main Themes
- The duality and contrast between the official and the alternative.
- Personal and collective memory as a territory for poetic exploration.
- Defeat and resistance as vital and creative experiences.
- Intertextuality and cultural references (cinema, music, literature).
- The passage of time and the fragility of physical and emotional supports.
Who is it recommended for?
This book is aimed at readers of contemporary poetry who appreciate formal and thematic experimentation. It is especially recommended for those who are already familiar with Joaquín Juan Penalva's work and wish to complete their poetic vision, as well as for those interested in poetry that engages with other arts such as film and music. It will also appeal to followers of current Spanish poetry who are looking for a reflective voice with solid cultural references.
What this book offers
- An original poetic proposal that plays with the concept of a literary "B-side."
- A necessary counterpoint to understand the totality of the author's work.
- Verses that invite reflection on memory, loss, and resistance.
- A reading experience that connects poetry with the universe of cinema and music.
- The opportunity to discover a consolidated voice within contemporary Spanish poetry.
Technical Specifications
- Author: Juan Penalva (1976-), Joaquín
- Publisher: Huerga y Fierro Editores
- Language: Spanish
- Subject: POETRY, POETRY BY INDIVIDUAL POETS
- Collection: FENICE POESIA
- Binding: Paperback
- Publication Date: May 2019
- Number of pages: 89
- Weight: 130 g
Editorial Assessment
All the Lost Battles presents itself as a complementary and necessary work within Joaquín Juan Penalva's output. His proposal to play with the "B-side" concept provides added value for readers interested in poetry that reflects on its own creation and publication processes. The author's poetry, laden with cultural references and an introspective gaze, will connect with those seeking a lyricism that transcends the purely emotional to enter the territory of memory and resistance. A book that, despite its brevity, offers a complete and coherent poetic experience.