James Kinsley (1922–1984)

Jeff, Jezz, or...? The narrative seems to be based on a serious case of dissociative identity disorder, with the protagonist switching seamlessly from one to the other. Except that Jeff is a peaceful nerd with relationship problems, while Jezz is a fighter in a hopeless war against invading aliens. Each of the two personalities appears accompanied by their own setting. So is it really a case of identity disorder, or is the narrative about something else? And who is the mysterious blonde show more woman who appears just before the protagonist switches from one identity to another?
Although it is very well written and keeps the reader glued to the pages, the novel has some structural problems, and above all, the ending comes across as a bit of a deus ex machina, as if the author no longer knew how to extricate himself from his own narrative skill. show less

I may need to buy this book. The selection of ballads I read were FABULOUS: strange, dramatic, silly, dark tales of love, sex, magic, and mayhem. Also very, very well-edited - Kinsley presents original texts, antiquated spelling and all, and his interpolations are clearly marked.

It's the sort of book that you can't read in the same room as another person because you will be compelled to interrupt them every five minutes with yet another wacky plot sketch of what you just read.

commented anthology, containing poems of Dryden, Sackville, Wilmot, Swift, Pope, Jenyns, Johnson, Churchill, Goldsmith, BurnsWolcot, Courtenay, Gifford, Byron, and 1 anon.