The Compendium by Brian Corvin: something a little different

The Compendium is author, Brian Corvin's third published work. Where his first two – The Dream Journey (2010) and The Unity Project (2016) – were collections of poetry and verse, the present volume offers "something a little different".

The opening section contains of a selection of neohaikus and social verse while, the second introduces the reader to some quirky short stories, taking on tales of the macabre, turning up some strange and unexpected twists. This is followed by a trilogy of related one-act plays that deal with the issue of clerical child abuse, probing the question of whether forgiveness of the kind that can lead to redemption is ever really possible in such a context.

The volume finishes with an autobiographical fragment (Towards a New World Order), in which he describes how he became a Baha'i, while living in Devon, England back in the 1960s.

"I am still a Bahai though, these days, I sometimes describe myself as a Neo-Bahai. I have never regretted my move to Bahai though, when writing about it, I sometimes feel that I can see similarities to Graham Greene's sardonically tinged attitude to Catholic beliefs and practices. I still believe that Bahai offers an unmatched vision for the future of the species, though we seldom live up to its aspirations and, I certainly feel that it is worth considering in this confusing, pessimistic and negative transitionary period."

The author, Brian Corvin, was born in Dublin, Ireland eighty years ago but, he sees himself as a world citizen. He has been inspired by Bahaullah, the prophet of globalisation but, feels that his writing should be grounded in the here and now of the world that he finds around him.

He achieves this quite admirably and with keen insight. His true talent, it might be said, rests in an ability to faithfully convey the views held by those of a particular mindset, irrespective of whether one might share those views or, even sympathise with them. It comes across in his writing whether he is talking about the European refugee crisis, politics in the era of Trump, the motives that drive people to commit desperate acts.

The Compendium by Brian Corvin is published by The Manuscript Publisher. It is on sale now and available to buy online as well as from certain bookshops. RRP €9.99.

Book Launch: The Unity Project by Brian Corvin. Thurs 6 October at Irish Writers' Centre

The Unity Project, the title of the recently published second volume of poetry and verse by artist and poet, Brian Corvin, will be formally launched at The Irish Writers' Centre on Thursday, 6 October starting 6:30pm.

The Unity Project
by Brian Corvin

Brian’s first book, The Dream Journey, published in 2009, took him 50 years to write. This second volume has taken him just five years, which, he describes, as "progress of a kind". In The Unity Project, he sets out to complete the task that he set himself with his first outing.

The book takes its title from the long anchor poem contained within, itself inspired by the writings of Abdul Baha (1844-1921) who, over 150 years ago, put forward the view that 'the earth is but one country and mankind its citizens'. It was with the intention of exploring the ramifications of such ideas that set Brian Corvin on his own journey.

"I wrote the poem, The Unity Project, about the next step in our evolutionary development, to give voice to my beliefs and hopes for a better world," says Brian.

The conclusions that he has come to are set forward in the two volumes of poetry that have been published to date. They are also presented, in summary form, on a website that is being launched to coincide with the new publication. This, he hopes, offers a platform that can "develop and morph into a people’s power movement, which can and will work for real and fundamental change on three levels: the individual, the communal and the global."

The Unity Project by Brian Corvin is published by The Manuscript Publisher and available to buy online, in print and e-book editions. Further information is available from the websites of the author and the publisher.

Signed copies will also be available at the launch to take place at the Irish Writers' Centre on Parnell Square, Dublin on Thursday, 6 October starting 6.30pm. Make a note in your diary. Download your invitation here. For directions to the Irish Writers' Centre, see map.