Villain unleashes a war of forms, perfect sonnets clash with mock haiku, heroic couplets and free verse - all directed towards capturing the contemporary world. But Villain also ranges over time and place, people and events, encompassing science-fiction creatures as well as medieval criminals.

Justin Clemens revives traditional poetic forms to create a shocking and beautiful vision of modern-day life. Invoking the spirit of celebrated French poet, vagabond and thief Francois Villon - some of whose ballads are translated here - these poems range from the violent and obscene to the lyrical and sublime, sometimes within a single verse.