The Smell of Tweed and Tobacco

In 1993 Jim Freeman left his hometown Chicago to live and write in Europe. He found himself in the golden city of Prague in the golden era of post-revolution growth - a strikingly beautiful city with a lively community of writers, musicians and artists. Although not exclusively about Prague, these poems reflect the shift in personal life and cultures, the disconnected relationships on one end and new emerging ones on the other. They explore connection to lovers, friends and family or glance into the lives of complete strangers. Jim Freeman is not the kind of guy you'd expect to write poetry and his poems are straightforward, often narrative, nothing to decipher and wonder what he meant. He's clear on that, but still lets you read between the lines and fill in your own imagery. This volume is dedicated to his father. Its title poem The Smell of Tweed and Tobacco reaches into the mystery of a father-son relationship, exposing some of the tender points as well as the mutual love. We often don't get to know enough about our parents. Fathers are especially reluctant to tell us the real story or expose their weaknesses. Expressing feelings in the context of poetry provides another way to look at them. It's an enjoyable read and if it sparks conversations or helps bridge some gaps, even better.

In 1993 Jim Freeman left his hometown Chicago to live and write in Europe. He found himself in the golden city of Prague in the golden era of post-revolution growth - a strikingly beautiful city with a lively community of writers, musicians and artists. Although not exclusively about Prague, these poems reflect the shift in personal life and cultures, the disconnected relationships on one end and new emerging ones on the other. They explore connection to lovers, friends and family or glance into the lives of complete strangers. Jim Freeman is not the kind of guy you'd expect to write poetry and his poems are straightforward, often narrative, nothing to decipher and wonder what he meant. He's clear on that, but still lets you read between the lines and fill in your own imagery. This volume is dedicated to his father. Its title poem The Smell of Tweed and Tobacco reaches into the mystery of a father-son relationship, exposing some of the tender points as well as the mutual love. We often don't get to know enough about our parents. Fathers are especially reluctant to tell us the real story or expose their weaknesses. Expressing feelings in the context of poetry provides another way to look at them. It's an enjoyable read and if it sparks conversations or helps bridge some gaps, even better.

Jim Freeman's book portfolio includes: NOVELS * EVOKE – exploring the societal effects of technology in a fictional context of the near future * Letters from Ceilia – an intimate story of a career woman's struggle in a world run largely by men * The Island – situated in duck-hunting country where two strong men clash in a conflict over land NON-FICTION * The Dark Side of the Moon – five books of political and social commentary on America's recent history * Dick Cheney's Fingerprints – a collection of observations focusing on the Iraq war and its origins POETRY COLLECTIONS * The Smell of Tweed and Tobacco – poems spanning relationships and life in Prague * Corner of My Mind – a more introspective collection also discussing the writing process * Broken Pieces – a mosaic of reflections about nature, hunting, travel, politics and life DRAMA * The Island – a screenplay based on the novel * Colors – a one-act stage play, winner of 1999 Pennsylvania Playhouse competition Jim Freeman was born in Evanston, Illinois and now lives and writes in Prague. His work has been published in a number of newspapers, magazines and anthologies.