Outsiders and Apparitions: Possessed Poems and Art for Family Picnics by Milan Sergent is an eclectic book of poetry and art by an easily bored author and artist who broke free from boundary violations, conformity, and abandonment as a youth. The past now only apparitions: he is currently possessed with a mission to encourage expression without dull traditions, rules, or shackling expectations. The soul can be possessed, but the product it produces must be free to protest.
The main title for this book was taken from Milan Sergent’s solo art exhibition, Outsiders and Apparitions in New York City, which featured a few of the paintings now included in this book. Sergent’s earlier poems were first published in Scarlet Literary Magazine.
Themes: Lost Years, Death, Judgment, Dogmatism, Abandonment, Tribalism, Conformism, Marginalization, Manipulation, Hypocrisy, and the embrace of Surrealism, Absurdism, and Apparitions as antidotes.
"Milan Sergent's Outsiders and Apparitions is a collection of poetry and artwork that has a way of digging into almost all of your senses. His poetry has a lyrical, children's nursery rhyme sort of bent, but with an adult flavor and tone. An antiquated essence also paints every page, so that there is a feeling of transportation that takes us centuries back into the past." --Erin Nicole Cochran for Readers' Favorite
"Sergent brings a unique brand of surrealism to an emotionally resonant space in this collection, which explores personal and wider themes that play with structure and form in poetry, but also express a breakout from the conventions of language, art, and society.... Having been an ardent fan of Milan Sergent's fiction work for quite some time now, it was a delight to explore another facet of the author's mind and see his artistic process come to light in new forms.... Outsiders and Apparitions is a book that no poetry fan should be without." --K.C. Finn for Readers' Favorite
"This superb collection of poetry and art, Outsiders and Apparitions by Milan Sergent, cleverly confronts societal opinions on outward success, happiness, and inner fulfillment.... Each poem is illustrated with the most extraordinary and exceptional artwork. I was absolutely captivated by this collection. Milan is such an inspirational artist and writer. His talent for provoking thought and change in human behavior is superb...." --Lesley Jones for Readers' Favorite
"[A] fabulous combination of art and poems that are unique, fresh, and unconventional and take readers to another realm altogether.... The collection is eclectic, unapologetic, and fantastical, and is a good way to make readers break free from their traditional ways of expressing themselves and to try out something different." --Mamta Madhavan for Readers' Favorite
"This is the best book of poetry that I have read this year. I absolutely enjoyed the ingenious poetry that Sergent brought to life in this collection.... What I loved even more was the collection of paintings that accompanied each poem.... Overall, I think Milan Sergent has created a masterpiece.... It's definitely a collection I would recommend. I can't wait to read more of his work." --Tiffany Ferrell for Readers' Favorite
