Paper Bark Press
Wicked Heat
1999, 88 pages, softcover, 215x150mm
ISBN 90 5704 076 X
Cover photograph by Ian Dodd
Wicked Heat is Kevin Hart's seventh collection of poetry. Here Hart explores the lush tropics of Queensland, where he grew up, the landscapes of the soul, and the rich spirituality of eros. Harold Bloom has claimed Hart as 'one of the major living poets in the English language', while Charles Simic has hailed him as 'an absolutely original and indispensable poet'.
Kevin Hart's poetry bas won many awards, including the Victorian and NSW Premiers' prizes for poetry and The Fellowship of Australian Writers Christopher Brennan Award. He is Professor of English and Comparative Literature at Monash University. Wicked Heat was shortlisted for the 2000 Judith Wright Calanthe Award for Poetry.
'The best of poets writing not only in Australia, but in English...'
~ Tom Bishop, Case Western Reserve University, Antipodes July 2000
'Hart has proven himself as much a cosmopolitan as an Australian. Wicked Heat, his seventh collection of poems, proves his poetic sensibility is similarly oriented toward the global and the local ... the collection in fact might be taken as a single episodic meditation, it is so consistent in imagery, atmosphere and themes.'
~ Christien Sheppard, Chicago Review December 1999
'In his fifth single volume of poetry, Wicked Heat, Kevin Hart emerges as one of the most powerful Australian poets now writing. His distinctiveness arises from the intelligent presentation of deep feeling and from his ability to attain complexity through simplicity, mystery through clarity. A book brimming with excellent poems ... Kevin Hart's singular ability to focus his attention, intellect and passion on his life while speaking 'in words that stick to skin' results in a book of rare intensity.'
~ Brian Henry, The Times Literary Supplement
'Kevin Hart is an erudite poet, but converts his learning into passion. He is a visionary of desire and its limits, and Wicked Heat contains permanent poetry, endless to meditation.'
~ Harold Bloom
Wicked Heat is a book of praise, Kevin Hart understands the craft of verse, and in his practice of poetry he acts out faith in God in a climate of doubt. Hart is an inspiration to poets and readers of poetry, his presence in Australia makes our culture richer and Wicked Heat will continue to be a major resource.'
~ Robert Adamson
Wicked Heat won the Fellowship of Australian Writers Christopher Brennan prize for poetry, 1997 and was shortlisted for the Judith Wright Calanthe Award for poetry in 2000.