British poetry is in a wonderful state at present Never have so many poets been saying so many interesting things in such lively up-to-date ways Yet many people feel shut out or know little about poetry & have no idea where to begin In this groundbreaking book Ruth Padel takes fifty-two of the poems she discussed in her newspaper column
- a year's worth
- & suggests ways of reading them The poems are by a wide range of living poets on experiences we all share
- love sex death nature history war
- which show how reading a poem can enhance everyone's life as powerfully & as pleasurably as reading novels or watching a film