Tales from the Other Box by Rick Dove

As a mixed heritage, biracial, neuro-diverse writer (and middle child), Rick Dove has generally avoided being put in boxes, and while many books could be written in an attempt to answer to the question “Where are you from?” this isn’t THAT book, but an attempt by the author of that book, to come to terms with the question itself.

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‘If explosions could be gentle, this book is one. Fusing a lyricism founded in beauty and a rage bitten back for decades, this is a startling and important new work.’

‘This is the kind of book you will softly write notes in with a pencil so you do not forget the parts that touched you the most. It is the kind of book you will excitedly pull out from the bookshelf to read for years to come.’

‘Tales from the Other Box contains quiet rage at racism’s aggressions and micro-aggressions. It is also a book about regret for loves and lives lost. Judging from the quality of this debut, Rick Dove will definitely be one to watch.’

Rick Dove is a London-based poet and storyteller. Born in Tooting and raised in south London in the 1980s and 1990s, Rick has witnessed the effects of both increasing multiculturalism and, more recently, gentrification on the same childhood streets, and, as such, his work reflects on both societal and personal change and how these two forces interact as we grow. A regular on London’s burgeoning poetry scene since late 2015, Rick’s performance features have included the Boomerang Club; Spoken Word London; Speak=; the ClitArt Festival 2017; Crystal Palace International Festival; Once Upon a Mic; The Chocolate Poetry Club, including a residency in 2016. As a poetry slam participant Rick has come second in the UK Slam Final 2019, been a highly commended semi-finalist of the BBC Edinburgh Fringe Slam 2018, he won the Farrago Slam (November 2018), and won the Hammer & Tongue Hackney’s 2018/2019 season.

Rick’s work has been published widely, including pieces in London South Bank University Anthology, London Spoken Word Anthology, New Poetry Magazine, Soapbox, Guardian Online and the Morning Star. His first solo pamphlet, Haigha’s Noosphere Canticles, was published by William Cornelius Harris Publishing in 2017. This is Rick’s first full published collection of poetry.