A review by foggy_rosamund
A Responsibility to Awe by Rebecca Elson

3.0

Published posthumously, this volume contains Elson's first collection, as well as an essay describing her career as an astronomer, and a selection of extracts from her notebooks. Her poetry, mainly written in clear, lyrical free-verse, deals with astronomy and our relationship to the stars, as well as love, family, and Elson's diagnosis with cancer. Her poems reflecting on mortality have particular poignancy and insight, and her exploration of love is sensual and moving. Her collection is uneven: some of these poems are true gems that deserve to be loved and remembered, and some of them are not very gripping or convincing. The essay about her work as an astronomer is fascinating, and as an insight into women in the science fields, it's very valuable. I'm glad I found this book, and I recommend it.