Book review: As Far As I Know, By Roger McGough

The Merseyside "patron saint of poetry" has mellowed in some ways.

Among his reflections on ageing, love and memory, and in the mix of his mischief, melancholy and wordplay, is an update to his seminal poem, "Let Me Die a Young-man's Death".

At the age of 75, that rock'n'roll attitude has morphed - with wry knowingness - into "Not for me a Youngman's Death'".

Now, he bares his teeth at his meanest critics in "Scorpio" to remind them that poets have long memories and that their hard words stick, and sting.