Rachel Long (UK)

There is a vibrancy to her narrative poems that is extraordinary to find in a text; with dizzying precision, Long describes humorous, sensual and surreal scenes. Sometimes, as a reader, you recognize yourself in the candid, uncomfortable moments Long shares; sometimes, on the contrary, the scenes are alienating. However, Long has a talent for making that alienation come across naturally nonetheless. The collection can be described as a coming-of-age story, in which the speaker survives a tumultuous childhood and adolescence only to find himself in the confusing maze called adulthood. Long creates relatable, human work that is sure to leave an impression long after she has once again traded the Rotterdam stage for her native London. 

Unfortunate circumstances prevented Rachel Long from making the trip to Rotterdam. Her reading will be in the shape of a video that was recorded this morning. During this hour you will also see Farhad Showghi (Germany) perform.