Our book of the week is our Summer Recommendation, Render by Billy Ramsell (Banshee Press).
Render plunges the reader into the vibrant setting of Barcelona in the second half of the 20th century. This highly original collection works as a compelling character study; Render presents itself as the selected works of a fictional poet, Alberto Cenas.
"I’d been writing in the voice of this non-existent Catalan poet for years. I could remember with livid clarity the morning in Cork city when he’d stepped unbidden into my mind, his rabbit-felt fedora slightly askew ... My commission was to create a Selected Poems in the voice of this haughty, vulnerable man, a book that tracked his life over several decades through several different collections." — Billy Ramsell, PBS Summer 2026 Bulletin
As PBS Selector Victoria Kennefick notes, "Render is a fascinating character study and “rendering” of the formation of an artist, as we walk with Cenas through the ever-challenging stages of man – youth, early adulthood, ageing and death." The book is akin to the immersive experience of a concept album or existentialist film, creating a complex portrait of a strange and sympathetic figure.
Render is published 4th June 2026. Pre-order your copy here, with 25% off for PBS members.