Quartet for the End of Time

In this remarkable book, Symmons Roberts explores his complex ongoing relationship with Messiaen’s visionary work , alongside reflections on grief, faith and the creative process… Symmons Roberts writes with wit, beauty and piercing insight… In responding to Messiaen’s radiant masterpiece, Symmons Roberts has created a masterpiece of his own * BBC Music Magazine *This wonderful book should help to win the strange, bird-fixated composer new admirers. * The Spectator *Symmons Roberts’ prose…is silky and emotive, with his success in weaving the personal strands with the musical partly owed to the deep connections wrought by his poems, each one seemingly chosen to heighten our understanding of what precedes it * Financial Times *Every sentence is beautifully assembled and polished… A properly engrossing exploration of music, place, religion and what it is to be human – Sarah Tarlow, author of THE ARCHAEOLOGY OF LOSSI love Michael Symmons Roberts’ poetry. He is a religious poet in a secular age. His work is about connection between the things of the spirit and the things of the world. And his work is about transcendence – Jeanette WintersonHe displays an amazing talent for intimacy on paper – sometimes, it almost takes your breath away * Observer *An outstanding writer * Sunday Times *

Michael Symmons Roberts is a poet and librettist. His eight books of poetry have received accolades including the Forward Prize, the Costa Poetry Award and the Whitbread Poetry Prize. His words for music have been performed in concert halls and opera houses around the world. He is also an award-winning broadcaster and radio dramatist. Born in Preston, Lancashire, he is Professor of Poetry at Manchester Metropolitan University.