In his insightful collection of poems Clive James looks back over an extraordinarily rich life with a clear-eyed & unflinching honesty There are regrets but no trace of self-pity in these verses which
- for all their open dealings with death & illness
- are primarily a celebration of what is treasurable & memorable in our time here Again & again James reminds us that he is not only a poet of effortless wit & lyric accomplishment he is also an immensely wise one who delights in using poetic form to bring a razor-sharp focus to his thought Miraculously these poems see James writing with his insight & energy not only undiminished but positively charged by his situation Sentenced to Life represents a career high point from one of the greatest literary intelligences of the age