All The Names Given

by Raymond Antrobus
All The Names Given cover
Good Books rating 4.25
Poetry
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  • ID: 2287
  • Added: 2025-10-13
  • Updated: 2025-10-13
  • ISBN: 9781951142933
  • Publisher: Tin House Books
  • Published: 2021-11-30
  • Formats: 1
  • Reviews: 3

Raymond Antrobus's All The Names Given is a profound and moving collection of poetry that delves into the complexities of language, miscommunication, and cultural identity. The poems traverse personal and historical landscapes, from the author's own childhood caught between intimacy and brutality to the broader impacts of colonialism. Antrobus's work is both a reckoning with his ancestry and a witness to the enduring violence of historical legacies. The collection is punctuated with innovative [Caption Poems], inspired by Deaf sound artist Christine Sun Kim, which attempt to fill in the silences and transitions between the poems, adding a unique layer of depth and meaning. The poems shift fluidly between England, South Africa, Jamaica, and the American South, exploring themes of family history, adolescent lust, and the complexities of marriage. Antrobus's writing is formally sophisticated, with a weighty perception and startling directness, making All The Names Given a timely and tender book full of humanity and remembrance.

Reviews
The Skinny · 2025-04-10
profound 4.25

The collection is described as a meditation on communication, exploring both what is communicated and how it is done.

This review emphasizes the collection's focus on communication, noting how it explores not just what is communicated but also the methods and nuances of communication. The reviewer appreciates the personal and political themes that run throughout the poems, finding them to be both intimate and expansive. They also highlight the collection's exploration of family dynamics and identity, which adds layers of meaning to the work. Overall, the reviewer finds the collection to be a profound and thought-provoking exploration of these themes.

Quick quotes

    Raymond Antrobus' new collection is a meditation on communication: not only on what is communicated, but also how.

    Both personal and political, intimate and ...

    All the Names Given is a ...

HC Magazine · 2022-04-26
powerful 4.00

The collection is praised for its exploration of communication and its ability to evoke a wide range of emotions. The reviewer finds the poems deeply personal and politically resonant.

This review highlights the collection's focus on communication, noting how it delves into both personal and political themes. The reviewer appreciates the emotional depth and the way the poems evolve, creating a musical-like experience. They also note the collection's exploration of family dynamics, identity, and race, which adds layers of complexity to the work. Overall, the reviewer finds the collection powerful and thought-provoking, with a unique ability to resonate with readers on multiple levels.

Quick quotes

    "You never see X and Y in the same room at the same time" is an ambiguous phrase. It could mean X and Y can't stand each other;

    Both personal and political, intimate and ...

    All the Names Given is a ...

Blue Book Balloon · 2021-09-02
moving 4.50

The reviewer compares reading the collection to experiencing a piece of classical music, with themes and emotions evolving throughout.

The reviewer finds that reading this collection is akin to listening to a piece of classical music, with various themes and emotions evolving throughout. They appreciate the way the poems build on each other, creating a cohesive and engaging experience. The reviewer also notes the collection's exploration of family, identity, and race, which adds depth and complexity to the work. Overall, they find the collection to be a powerful and moving exploration of these themes.

Quick quotes

    For me, it made reading the collection resemble the experience of a piece of classical music, with various themes and emotions evolving on ...

    The poems build on each other, creating a cohesive and engaging experience.

    The collection's exploration of family, identity, and race adds depth and complexity to the work.

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