Tony Kaplan has written more than 1200 poems from 1994 to 2008. He is the author of the following poetry books:
Runaway Dreams2002113 PagesDestined to No Where200395 PagesMoon Tower2004160 PagesBlue Glazed Eyes2005250 PagesThe November Tree2006350 PagesAll the above books were published in London, United Kingdom.
Tony Kaplan’s poetry books are available in 75 universities worldwide (40 UK), American, European, African, and Far East universities, and some UK libraries.
He is living in Wimbledon, London SW19 UK.A catalogue record for ‘Blue Glazed Eyes’ and ‘The November Tree’ are available from the British Library.
Testimony
THE BRITISH LIBRARY96 Euston RoadLondonNW1 2DBwww.bl.ukTHE WORLD’S KNOWLEDGE13/6/05Dear Mr Kaplan,Thank you for the donation of a copy of Blue gazed eyes which was passed to this section from the Information Desk – Visitor Services.I am delighted to add this work to the Library’s collections and thank you for thinking of the British Library.Yours sincerely,
Duncan G HeyesCurator, Modern British Collections……………………………………………………………………..
Dear Mr Kaplan 22 November 2006Thank you very much for your kind offer of a CD version of ‘Blue glazed eyes’. We would very much like to take up your offer of receiving this title in book form, as CDs are increasingly difficult to make available for readers, and certainly will not be available for borrowing.We would also like to purchase your title ‘The November tree’. Can you send us this book with your invoice (an informal one will do)? I can then authorize payment by check.Look forward to your reply, I remainDr G. Wiedermann: Head of English Collection DevelopmentYours sincerely,
………………………………….UNIVERSITY OF DUBLIN13 January 2005Dear Tony KaplanThank you for Blue Glazed Eyes which, at last (and perhaps reluctantly!)I’m going to give to the College Library. There are some wonderful life affirming poems here; also some humorous ones (actually a lovely, human humour runs through the book); and a very attractive, personal, philosophical power of gazing, of absorbing, of sharing what you see. I think it’s the book of a natural, appreciative philosopher always poised (or nearly always posed) on the edge of laughter. Everything in your borderless vision is indeed possible. And more power to your elbow.Thank you again for your generosity, and good luck to your writing and your life.I am giving your letter (as well as your book) to the library folk, and will tell them to contact you.Prof. Brendan Kennelly
Dear Tony Kaplan, 13.4.07Your book looks very interesting. I have read a few of the poems now and they are idiomatic and energetic in a way I admire.It seems a bit hard on yourself to send these books out in the way you do. I shall accept it as a gift for our university, with thanks, and with every wish for the success of your enterprise,
Athena Press - Readers Report
Author: Tony Kaplan
Title: The November Tree
Date: 26th June 2008
Dear Kaplan
This collection is the collected and distilled poetic work of a considerable talent. It was a welcome surprise to encounter it; whether it should be considered as personal or general, as spiritual, or as verse of emotion, or as commentary does not matter; because Tony Kaplan’s varies, textured writing is all these things and more, from the elegiac note of “A Philosophical Fool” to the witty, complex approach of “A Zig-Zag Walking Man”.
It is not all an “easy read”; there is irony(“Mosquito Catching in Venice”, “Royal Ascot Hat Race”), but also an appreciation of texture and richness, and this duality seems to be quite a big part of Kaplan’s creative matrix. This is a very coherent group of writing; the singer has one voice throughout but many tones. It is often intellectually demanding.
I particularly liked the narrative strength of each poem; each one is almost a novel, in content; they contain a world in a grain of sand. The verbal felicities are noticeable and can be found on nearly every page. “Moon Tower” is full of colour and texture.
This collection is very complete; the work is mature, the language musical. Every piece seems created and crafted with care. It is almost composed rather than written. Although we always go through a book carefully, editorially, when we proof, because “typos” can slip in, it would almost be an insult to this work to suggest the alteration. of a word.
We will certainly offer a proposal for this individual and really quite important book. There is a market for original verse in the USA and if we proceed with this project, we will publish both in the UK and the USA.
Mark Sykes
Editor-In-Chief
Athena Press
