Crimson Rain

"In his fifth book of poetry, Stephen Chan treats his experiences as an official of the New Zealand government stationed in southern Africa during the early 1980's -- a time of turmoil and revolution. From the beautifully crafted opening poem which deals with the poet's birth to the final pages, the reader is held by Chan's consummate artistry. He senses immediately he is in the company of an extremely intelligent writer, gifted with a superb sense of the dramatic and highly adept at creating unique imagery. One need not know Africa nor the particulars of its political intrigues to experience the sense of bleakest tragedy that Chan's fine work conveys." -- Thomas Feeny