An Arbitrary Light Bulb

by Ian Duhig
An Arbitrary Light Bulb cover
Good Books rating 4.33
Poetry
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  • ID: 2269
  • Added: 2025-10-13
  • Updated: 2025-10-13
  • ISBN: 9781035033218
  • Publisher: Pan Macmillan
  • Published: 2024-11-14
  • Formats: 1
  • Reviews: 3

An Arbitrary Light Bulb is Ian Duhig’s most personal collection of poems to date, taking its title from the common yet virtually unknown household bulb. This collection celebrates the arbitrary and the overlooked, finding inspiration in the randomness of life and the haunting presence of loss. Duhig’s poems roam widely through history, art, loves, and injustices, driven by a desire to share knowledge, joy, anger, and wonder with his readers. Starting from his home in Leeds, the poems reflect a life of deep reflection and vibrant engagement with the world. /n/n Praised by Carol Ann Duffy as 'the most original poet of his generation,' Duhig’s work in this collection is marked by technical variety and contagious pleasure, offering a profound and humorous exploration of existence.

Reviews
The Times Literary Supplement · Rory Waterman · 2025-04-11
moving 4.00

The collection reflects on the author's aging process, blending personal introspection with poetic skill. The poems are noted for their depth and emotional resonance.

Rory Waterman highlights how this collection marks a shift in Duhig's work, as he grapples with the realities of being in his seventies. The poems are not just skillfully crafted but also deeply personal, offering a poignant reflection on life's passage. Waterman appreciates the blend of the author's characteristic wit and a newfound vulnerability, making the collection both moving and thought-provoking.

Quick quotes

    But in An Arbitrary Light Bulb, that mode is often tempered by the author's shock at finding himself in his seventies.

    The poems are not just skillfully crafted but also deeply personal.

    The collection offers a poignant reflection on life's passage.

The Times · 2024-11-24
heartfelt 4.50

The collection is described as Duhig's most moving work, filled with heartfelt poetry. It includes a standout love poem dedicated to his wife.

The Times reviewer finds this to be Duhig's most moving collection to date, filled with poetry that is not only skillful but also deeply heartfelt. They highlight the inclusion of a beautiful love poem dedicated to the author's wife, which adds a personal and emotional depth to the collection. The reviewer appreciates the memorable quality of the poems, making this a standout work in Duhig's oeuvre.

Quick quotes

    This is Duhig's most moving book, full of memorable poetry not just of skill but of heart.

    There is even an out-and-out love poem, Dents-de-Lion, for his wife.

    The poems are not just skillful but also deeply heartfelt.

The Guardian · 2024-11-01
brilliant 4.50

The collection is praised for its multifaceted and personal approach, alchemizing the heart and mind. It is considered a brilliant and impactful body of work.

The reviewer at The Guardian lauds Duhig's ability to weave together deeply personal and political themes, creating a poetic vision that is both multifaceted and deeply resonant. They describe the collection as brilliant, highlighting its ability to alchemize the heart and mind. The reviewer finds the poems to be impactful and memorable, making this a standout collection.

Quick quotes

    Multifarious and maverick, deeply personal and political, Duhig's poetic vision alchemises the heart and mind.

    This is a brilliant collection.

    The poems are impactful and memorable.

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