Available in Ebook

WARNING: contains legal documents and poems.

After an argument with his wife, Verity, Jason Button threw a stapler which struck her on the face. Is he guilty of violent assault? Or was it just a matter of bad luck?

Briefcase, the first book of poetry by Judge and poet John Adams, is a mélange of poems – in traditional and experimental forms – and other texts: affidavits, police reports, a sudoku puzzle, court transcripts, a menu, wills and commentaries.

A disordered novella in legal documents, brutal and amusing by turns, Briefcase superbly explores the role of language as a vessel for truth and an implement of justice.

Author

More about John Adams

Extract

Read an extract here

Awards and Nominations

Winner – 2012 New Zealand Society of Authors Jessie Mackay Award for Best First Book of Poetry – Briefcase, John Adams

Interview

John Adams on Saturday Morning with Kim Hill, RNZ.

Reviews

This is a thoughtful and entertaining book, full of joie de vivre and joie de bon mots. – Lewis Martin, Nelson Mail

Poems are delivered with emotion and energy, sounding both thoughtful and shambolic, abstract and well designed. – Hamesh Wyatt, Otago Daily Times

. . . an intriguing and accomplished first poetry collection. – Hugh Roberts, NZ Listener