A Taste for Hemlock chronicles a journey of mysticism and transmutation for French poet Michèle Vassal. Born in France but drawn to the magic and potential of Hiberno-English after moving to Dublin in the late 1970s, this is her second English-language collection. Grounded in myths and storytelling, Michèle Vassal’s vision is uncompromising, incisive, and laden with a rich, painterly sensuality.
“Michèle Vassal has the rare gift of turning poetry into music. Each elegant, spare, melodic verse lingers in the mind like a beautiful song.” – Ferdia McAnna
Michèle Vassal is French but her years in Ireland have given her an unconditional love for Irish Literature. She started writing in English in the late nineties, going on to receive the Listowel Writers Week Poetry Prize for her debut collection Sandgames (Salmon Poetry, 2001). She currently lives in France.