Title: The Forward Book of Poetry
Author: Various Artists
Publisher: Faber and Faber
ISBN 10: Various Editions

“The Forward Book of Poetry” is one of the most impressive and remarkable poetry collections currently being published. Presenting poets who are both well known and new to the scene, the book is a shining example of all that is great about poetry in the UK at the moment.

Published annually the book is a collection of the short listed entries for the Forward Poetry Prizes. The Prizes were first established in 1991 with the goal of correcting the woeful lack of recognition and attention contemporary poetry receives and of extending its audience. The Forward Poetry Prizes themselves are currently the most financially rewarding poetry competition in the UK. Offering the competitive categories of Best Collection (10,000), Best First Collection (5000) and Best Single Poem (1000) the Prizes are regarded as hotly contested and only the very best poets shine through. The Prizes are only open to published poets and the poets cannot nominate themselves, their publishers must enter their collections and poems in their stead.

Poets and poems that do indeed manage to shine through above and beyond their competitors but perhaps do not manage to win are recognized by inclusion in “The Forward Book of Poetry“. Five highly respected literary judges debate long and hard to decide which poems should be included in the annual collection, so it is of little surprise that the poetry offered in the book is of an exceptional quality.

The poets featured in the book are a mixed bunch, sometimes well known names and ex-poet laureates that are recognizable to even those with little knowledge of poetry, and sometimes previously unknown poets making their public debut. The result is a refreshing mixture of poetry about a wide ranging but always griping variety of subjects. Each and every poem is an experience and delight in its own right and the collection as a whole can serve as a fantastic introduction to contemporary poetry for someone new to the genre, or as the treat in the form of the collation of the very best modern poetry for someone already familiar with contemporary British poetry.

I definitely recommend you get hold of a copy today, and see what you have been missing out on.

5/5 – Simply peerless.

Nicholas Cockayne is a 23-year-old UK based writer with a BA in English and a MA in Creative and Critical Writing. Nicholas is passionate about literature, writing, and publishing. He is currently trying to adjust to living in the countryside, finish several novels, and find time to read.

No related posts.