Poetry Books

Book SynopsisOn a cold September morning in 1844 a young man from Bavaria stands on a New York dockside dreaming of a new life in the new world. He is joined by his two brothers and an American epic begins. 163 years later the firm they establish - Lehman Brothers - spectacularly collapses into bankruptcy triggering the largest financial crisis in history. Weaving together nearly two centuries of family history this epic theatrical event charts the humble beginnings outrageous successes and devastating failure of the financial institution that would ultimately bring the global economy to its knees./ The Lehman Trilogyis the quintessential story of western capitalism rendered through the lens of a single immigrant family. Note: Nick Powell's original music from the Broadway and West End productions (which is available for streaming on music platforms) is not approved or licensed by Concord Theatricals for use in performance.

Read more less

Book SynopsisTHE INSTANT SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLERA NEW STATESMAN BOOK OF THE YEARA SAINSBURY'S MAGAZINE BOOK TO GIFTFor the past decade, Lemn Sissay has composed a short poem as dawn breaks each morning. Life-affirming, witty and full of wonder, these poems chronicle his own battle with the dark and are fuelled by resilience and defiant joy. Let the Light Pour In is a collection of the best of these poems, and a book celebrating this morning practice.'How do you do it?' said night'How do you wake up and shine?''I keep it simple,' said light'One day at a time'Trade ReviewI am not sure I've read a more beautiful poetry book -- FEARNE COTTONWonderful . . . one of these books that just makes you happy to have in your bag -- JACKIE KAYI love Lemn for his hard-won light smashed out of darkness like gold from therock. Simple fast quatrains, dawn-written, day after day, just swallow one like an espresso and go -- JEANETTE WINTERSON * * New Statesman, Books of 2023 * *This wee beauty has me hooked from the preface. We truly have a national treasure in Lemn Sissay -- PATERSON JOSEPHIf you're looking for lovein every day, then findLet the Light Pour inby Lemn Sissay -- JESSICA HYNESA master of words: what he manages to do with language is help us remember that each word is important -- NIHAL ARTHANAYAKEWonderfully quotable . . . within those four lines, so much is said -- CLARE BALDINGThe most lovely present -- ANDI OLIVERA delight and a balm -- ADJOA ANDOHFull of resilience, defiance and joy * * Muddy Stilettos * *

Read more less

Book SynopsisBeautiful Sad Eyes, Weary Waiting for Love is a two-book collection from bestselling poets r.h. Sin and Robert M. Drake that explores the duality of the heart to cling to darkness while fighting to feel the light.A unique duet between two powerhouse poets, Beautiful Sad Eyes, Weary Waiting for Love is a poem told in two parts: Beautiful Sad Eyes explores the romance of melancholy, while Weary Waiting for Love shines light on the resilience of optimism and peace. Together, r.h. Sin and Robert M. Drake bring the reader face to face with unthinkable truths and the reality that in order to break through, you must first have the courage to break down.

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisA collection of J. M. Barrie's Peter Pan stories--from his first appearance in The Little White Bird to the final version of the Peter Pan play we know today.Table of ContentsThe Little White Bird Anon: A Play Peter and Wendy Scenario for a Proposed Film of Peter Pan Peter Pan Appendix 1: On the Acting of a Fairy Play Appendix 2: When Wendy Grew Up: An Afterthought Appendix 3: The Blot on Peter Pan Appendix 4: Captain Hook at Eton Notes

Read more less

Book SynopsisShakespeare’s Macbeth is one of the greatest tragic dramas the world has known. Macbeth himself, a brave warrior, is fatally impelled by supernatural forces, by his proud wife, and by his own burgeoning ambition. As he embarks on his murderous course to gain and retain the crown of Scotland, we see the appalling emotional and psychological effects on both Lady Macbeth and himself. The cruel ironies of their destiny are conveyed in poetry of unsurpassed power. In the theatre, this tragedy remains perennially engrossing.

Read more less

Book SynopsisUsher is a Black, queer writer, working a day job he hates while writing his original musical: a piece about a Black, queer writer, working a day job he hates while writing his original musical... Michael R. Jackson's blistering original musical follows a young artist at war with a host of demons – not least of which are the punishing thoughts in his own head – in an attempt to understand his own strange loop. A Strange Loop received its world premiere at Playwrights Horizons in New York in 2019. It went on to win the Pulitzer Prize for Drama, as well as Best Musical and Best Book of a Musical at the 2022 Tony Awards – and every other 'Best Musical' award on Broadway. It received its British premiere at the Barbican Theatre, London, in 2023, with Michael R. Jackson winning Best Composer, Lyricist or Book Writer at the 2023 Stage Debut Awards. 'A metafictional musical that tracks the creative process of an artist transforming issues of identity, race and sexuality that once pushed him to the margins of the cultural mainstream into a meditation on universal human fears and insecurities' Pulitzer Prize CommitteeTrade Review'Explosively imaginative. Dazzlingly one-of-a-kind' * Washington Post *'Audacious and uproarious... a meta masterpiece' * Guardian *'A dazzling ride. No measure of praise could be too much' * New York Times *'Screamingly funny. Unmissable. The musical we've been waiting for' * Time Out *'To watch this show is to enter, by some urgent, bawdy magic, an ecstatic and infinitely more colorful version of the famous surreal lithograph by M. C. Escher: the hand that lifts from the page, becoming almost real, then draws another hand, which returns the favor. Which came first? A Strange Loop is complex, teasing, thrilling' * New Yorker *'Brilliant… Harrowing… one-of-a-kind… Hyper-observant and hyper-verbal, Jackson lets his remorselessly satirical eye wander, to hilarious and devastating effect… What makes A Strange Loop so powerful, is not an attempt to find "our common humanity" but an insistence on speaking its own idiosyncratic truth' * Vogue *'An exhilarating cocktail of hilarious lyrical complexity… Michael R. Jackson is a musical talent with deep wells of invention' * Time Out New York *'Phenomenal... both a raw and unflinching interrogation of identity and the most furiously entertaining show on Broadway' * Variety *'Dazzling... spectacularly bold... a challenging, uncompromising show... irreverent and funny... Jackson's songs are slick, tuneful and accessible... An enormous number of musicals have opened in the West End in the last couple of months, but none of them have a tenth of the audacity and imagination of A Strange Loop' * Time Out *'Triumphant, emotionally lacerating... I sat with my mouth agape, astonished and grateful that something so brutally honest and rigorously constructed had finally broken through to a Broadway stage' * LA Times *'A blast and a revelation... an astonishing tour-de-force' * WhatsOnStage *'Magnificent... a strikingly original, highly entertaining tour of identity politics and the struggles of selfhood' * Guardian *'A thrillingly strange, playful and hilarious new musical, stuffed with catchy tunes... extraordinary... I'd watch it again in an instant' * Evening Standard *'A cleverly complex piece of drama, that's also incredibly uplifting and joyful... musical theatre heaven' * Theatre Weekly *'An experience you won't forget' * Independent *'Magnificent... dazzling... joyous, clever and alive. Don't miss it' * iNews *

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis special edition of the international hit play Prima Facie features the definitive version of the award-winning script, together with colour photos and exclusive additional content, giving you a fascinating behind-the-scenes insight into the making of the production and the issues it explores. In the play, Tessa is a young, brilliant barrister who has worked her way up from working-class origins to the top of her game: defending, cross-examining and winning. But when an unexpected event forces her to confront the patriarchal power of the law – where the burden of proof and morality diverge – she finds herself in a world where emotion and integrity are in conflict with the rules of the game. After acclaimed productions in Australia and winning the Australian Writers' Guild Award for Drama, Prima Facie received its European premiere in a sold-out run at the Harold Pinter Theatre in London's West End in 2022 starring Jodie Comer in her West End debut. It was named Best New Play at both the 2023 Olivier and WhatsOnStage Awards. A filmed version, released in 2022, went on to become the highest-grossing event cinema release ever in the UK. This edition, published alongside Prima Facie's Broadway transfer in 2023, includes contributions from writer Suzie Miller, actor Jodie Comer, director Justin Martin, producer James Bierman and other key members of the creative team, letting you go deeper into the world of the play. There are also essays on the legal context and how the play has become a vehicle for change in attitudes towards the treatment of female victims of sexual assault.Trade Review'A play that roars... urgent and powerful' * Guardian *'A searing, intense indictment of the ways the legal system perpetuates the patriarchal order that has created it in the first place… The relevance of this unsettling drama for our present moment of #MeToo is obvious… joins the ranks of such works as Michaela Coel's I May Destroy You and Nina Raine's Consent… What we come to know is certainly disturbing, but, as in all great theatre, it strikes one as a true privilege to have made the journey' * Arts Desk *'An unforgettable moment of theatre' * WhatsOnStage *'An outstanding piece of theatre that has a phenomenal impact' * Reviews Hub *'A damning portrait of justice denied women… teems with rich nuance, testing sympathies… like a punch to the guts' * Telegraph *'Suzie Miller's script is shrewd and economical in its analysis of how the system treats assault survivors... timely and timeless' * Evening Standard *'A striking drama... Suzie Miller's text is pacy and punchy' * Independent *'An impassioned play about an important subject... blazing' * Time Out (London) *'A polemical monologue which makes its point in style… the cumulative effect is quite something' * The Times *'Hugely succesful and hard-hitting... What makes this play especially astonishing is how lived-in its writing feels. Miller's background as a lawyer shines in every line of dialogue... an urgent and compelling work' * Time Out (Sydney) *'A relevant and deeply disturbing indictment of how our legal system routinely fails sexual assault victims... A seriously important work' * Arts Hub (Australia) *

Read more less

Book SynopsisCelebrating the art forms of ballet and fashion, this beautiful book explores the creative collaborations between New York City Ballet and the top fashion designers of our age, including Virgil Abloh, Christopher John Rogers, Anna Sui, and Valentino, among others.Featuring more than thirty contemporary fashion designers, New York City Ballet Choreography & Couture highlights their distinctive work for ballet. From the shorts suits of Thom Browne accommodating the movement of dancers, and the leather harness detailing of Prabal Gurung to the baroque flounces of Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen or the jewel-encrusted slip dresses of Carolina Herrera, this enchanting volume highlights how fashion design is adapted for dance to amplify movement and music.The stunning photography by Pari Dukovic features breathtaking images of the dancers in motion, along with detail shots highlighting the couture elements of the costumes. Author Marc Happel, NYCB’s DirTrade Review"The New York City Ballet has staged an annual fashion gala since 2012, bringing together choreographers and fashion designers for collaborations both whimsical and mind-bending. A decade’s worth of their creations are vividly showcased in “New York City Ballet: Choreography and Couture,” with a foreword by Sarah Jessica Parker." — New York Times"The list of designer collaborators for New York City Ballet’s annual Fall Fashion Gala reads like the ultimate fashion Rolodex. Carolina Herrera, Raf Simons, Dries Van Noten, Virgil Abloh, and Sarah Burton are just a few of the 30 names who have designed costumes for the annual celebration of dance and fashion over the past 12 years and whose work is celebrated in a new Rizzoli monograph titled New York City Ballet: Choreography & Couture." ~GRAZIA

Read more less

Book SynopsisKalidasa’s The Lineage of the Raghus, or Raghuvaṃśa, belongs to the literary tradition of mahākāvya, or court poem. It recounts the lives of ancient kings—such as Dilipa, Raghu, and Rama—who ruled from the capital city of Ayodhya. This volume presents a new edition of the Sanskrit text in the Devanagari script alongside a fresh English translation.Trade ReviewA fine edition that should appeal both to the serious Sanskrit reader and the more casually interested English-speaking one. -- M.A. Orthofer * Complete Review *

Read more less

Book Synopsis''Brianna Pastor is by far one of my favourite new writers. If you want to feel seen and deeply moved, read Good Grief. Let the power of her writing guide you to a better life.'' Yung Pueblo, #1 New York Times bestselling authorAn expanded edition with over forty brand-new poems of the bestselling poetry collection Good Grief by Brianna Pastor.When Brianna Pastor released her self-published poetry collection, Good Grief, she was blown away by the outpouring of support from people who reached out and said, ''Yes. Me too.'' For anyone who has struggled with questions of identity or coped with serious emotional issues, including grief, trauma, anxiety and depression, this collection will help you find hope on the other side.We don''t know how long our pain will last. we assume that because it hurts now, it is probably going to hurt tomorrow. it may even hurt the next day. perhaps it will get worse. but we sleep, and y

Read more less

Book Synopsis1964: Richard Burton, the firebrand Welsh actor, newly married to movie star Elizabeth Taylor, is to play the title role in an experimental new production of Hamlet under the exacting direction of John Gielgud. But as rehearsals progress, the collaboration between actor and director soon threatens to unravel. One of them is the most famous movie star in the world; the other, a patrician from an earlier age of theatre. The stage is set for two titans to collide. Jack Thorne's The Motive and the Cue is a fierce, funny play which offers a glimpse into the politics of a rehearsal room and the relationship between art and celebrity. This edition was published alongside the West End transfer in 2023, following its world premiere at the National Theatre, London, earlier that year. Originally commissioned and co-produced by Neal Street Productions, it was directed by Sam Mendes, and starred Johnny Flynn as Burton, Mark Gatiss as Gielgud and Tuppence Middleton as Taylor. It was named Best Play at the Evening Standard Theatre Awards in 2023.Trade Review'Marvellous... a quite wonderful new play... full of compassion, funny, witty and utterly compelling... This play is Thorne and Mendes's own love letter to the stage, full of both intellect and passion, clever and profoundly moving' * WhatsOnStage *'Enjoyable and hugely adroit' * Evening Standard *'Witty, deft, and touching... a palpable hit' * Telegraph *'Magical... deeply affecting... not just a heartfelt plea for the power of theatre, but a moving, often very funny, story about two generations teasing and provoking one another' * Independent *'Fascinating... a dual of egos in which not just the play, but the two men's sense of their selves is at stake' * The Stage *'A riotous peek behind the scenes... sensational' * Time Out *'Thrilling... an undeniably magnificent tour de force. Theatre should thank its lucky stars for Thorne. He has reminded us all why we went to the theatre and why we continue to go' * Broadway World *'Blazingly triumphant... a story about humanity, vulnerability, reconciliation' * TheatreCat *'Beautifully written... Jack Thorne's dramatisation of the events is powerful and entertaining in equal measure' * The Upcoming *'Stunning... Thorne's gloriously rich script subtly dissects the various relationships of the players, and it's magical to see it all unfold... a brilliant piece of theatre' * Theatre Weekly *'Part mischievous comedy and part docu-drama... a funny and affectionate love letter from theatre to itself' * Reviews Hub *'Magic... breathtaking in its simplicity and beauty' * LondonTheatre1 *

Read more less

Book SynopsisCarol Ann Duffy lives in Manchester, where she is Professor and Creative Director of the Writing School at Manchester Metropolitan University. Her poetry has received many awards, including the Signal Prize for Children's Verse, the Whitbread, Forward and T. S. Eliot Prizes, and the Lannan and E. M. Forster Prize in America. She was Poet Laureate of the United Kingdom from 2009 to 2019. Her many collections include Mean Time, Love Poems and The Bees, which won the Costa Poetry Award. Her writing for children includes Queen Munch and Queen Nibble, The Skipping-Rope Snake and The Tear Thief. She was made a DBE in the 2015 New Year Honours list. In 2021, she was awarded the international lifetime achievement award the Golden Wreath for her achievements in poetry.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis extraordinary debut heralds the arrival of a major new talent.In After You Were, I Am, charged moments from history collide with our own godless modern world. The book's three sections ingenious rewritings of canonical prayers, dramatic monologues from the Pendle witch trials of 1612, and the divine tragedy of the Elizabethan magus John Dee obsess over individual human characters and how our past informs (and informs on) our present. Ralphs's style is utterly distinctive; she is a modern metaphysical, tapping into a haunting, era-spanning utterance enlivened by the electric pulse of wordplay and imaginative conceit. This is poetry that in comprehending the past manages to make of it something utterly original and contemporary.Historical figures inspired two distinctive debuts: Elizabeth I's court magician John Dee is ventriloquised with dizzying wordplay in Camille Ralphs's metaphysical After You Were, I Am (Faber, 10.99)' Telegraph, Best Poetry of 2024 Ralphs's mischievous, metaphysical debut riffs on great religious poets, revisits the victims of the Pendle Witch Trials and explores the life of Elizabethan conjuror John Dee. TFS' Telegraph, The 50 Best Books of 2024 - ranked'

Read more less

Book SynopsisThese poems arose from the depths of incarceration, from the throat and intellect of Mohsen Mohamed (sentenced to five years of harsh imprisonment after a campus protest) and went on to win Egypt’s two most significant literary prizes. They speak of dislocation and the wrenching of the heart, of a found (and forged) community, of the bare lineaments of humanity disclosed in the throes of suffering. They are works of provocative witness and searching tenderness.

Read more less

Book SynopsisLennox Robinson was born in County Cork in 1886. He was a prominent playwright and theatre producer with a long association with Dublin's Abbey Theatre. His support of Irish nationalism came from watching productions at the theatre and he often wrote about Irish politics and conflict in his plays.Robinson wrote and edited several books including The Oxford Book of Irish Verse and an autobiography, Curtain Up in 1942. He died in 1958.

Read more less

Book Synopsis''For God''s sake, let us sit upon the ground,And tell sad stories of the death of kings''Crowned as a child, Richard II only knows power. The King''s court tire of his fickle, greedy reign, but it is only when he exiles his own cousin, Henry Bolingbroke, and attempts to steal his inheritance that they are pushed to act. What follows threatens Richard''s crown and with it his sense of self. Shakespeare''s most tragic history play uses the rich and messy familial web of monarchy to explore what it means to crave power, to hold it, to fight to take it, and to lose it. Richard II is Shakespeare''s most human and tragic history play, a story about the ways power distorts a ruler''s sense of self. The New Oxford Shakespeare offers authoritative editions of Shakespeare''s works with introductory materials designed to encourage new interpretations of the plays and poems. Using the text from the landmark The New Oxford Shakespeare Complete Works: Modern Critical Edition, these volumes offer readers the latest thinking on the authentic texts (collated from all surviving original versions of Shakespeare''s work) alongside innovative introductions from leading scholars. The texts are accompanied by a comprehensive set of critical apparatus to give readers the best resources to help understand and enjoy Shakespeare''s work.ABOUT THE SERIES: For over 100 years Oxford World''s Classics has made available the widest range of literature from around the globe. Each affordable volume reflects Oxford''s commitment to scholarship, providing the most accurate text plus a wealth of other valuable features, including expert introductions by leading authorities, helpful notes to clarify the text, up-to-date bibliographies for further study, and much more.

Read more less

Book SynopsisFollowing Rilke’s advice to “live the questions," this book invites us to draw upon his startling insights and often unconventional wisdom to see ourselves as ripening, unfolding, and always becoming.“This is a book to savor, soaking up the rewards of stories, insights, and provocations about the passage of our lives." —Sally Gillespie, author of Climate Crisis and Consciousness: Re-imagining our World and Ourselves"You Are the Future beckons us to discover a wise way to live a life in the company of self and others.” —Pádraig Ó Tuama, poet, peace activist, and host of On Being’s “Poetry Unbound” Rainer Maria Rilke''s poetry has inspired readers for more than a century, and never more so than now. His rare spiritual vision speaks uniquely in a time when many are seeking freedom of thought and a more wholistic way of living. Written by two award-winning writers who have journeyed deeply with Rilke, this book invites readers—with Rilke—to “live” the deep questions facing us in our day, embracing the poet’s refusal to reach for simplistic “answers.” Through the originality and insight of their writing, Burrows and Dowrick honor readers’ own experiences and, in conversation with Rilke, invite them to examine their lives and “desire the change,” as the poet put it. In so doing, they bring sublime poetry into the heart of daily life, where the gifts it carries are most needed. All translations are by Mark S. Burrows, a widely respected Rilke scholar and translator.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe people who buy paintings like this aren't just driven by aesthetic desire. People who buy paintings like this want a story. A story that catapults them into the orbit of the Führer.As Nicola and Philipp are clearing out their late father's house, they find an old painting stashed in the attic: a quaint watercolour of a church on a pale summer day, signed A. Hitler'.Nicola wants to sell it. Philipp wants to keep it. Philipp's wife Judith wants to burn it.A jagged satire from one of Germany''s foremost playwrights, Nachtland opened at the Young Vic Theatre, London, in February 2024.

Read more less

Book SynopsisAn elegant hardcover collector’s edition celebrating the 10th anniversary of the bestselling Love & Misadventure. This gorgeous gift book features a special foreword by Lang Leav and highly personal annotations interspersed throughout. Also included are newly colored artworks and a ribbon marker. Beautifully illustrated and thoughtfully conceived, this updated version of Love & Misadventure will take you on a rollercoaster ride through the highly relatable themes of love—from the initial butterflies, through to the soaring heights, and the devastating plunge. And, in the end, the message is one of hope.The journey from love to heartbreak to finding love again is personal yet universal. Lang Leav’s evocative poetry speaks to the soul of anyone who has travelled along this path. Capturing the naivety, excitement, and pure joy of finding that special someone, and the mind-numbing despair when a relationship suddenly comes to an end. Leav has an unnerving ability to see deep inside the hearts and minds of her readers. Her talent for translating complex emotions with astonishing simplicity has won her a cult following of devoted modern poetry fans from all over the world. Lang Leav is an internationally bestselling poet, novelist and artist. Lang’s words of love, loss, and self-empowerment have inspired millions across the globe to seek their own voice through the healing power of poetry. Love & Misadventure was her first poetry collection.

Read more less

Book SynopsisBrian Bilston has been described as Twitter's unofficial Poet Laureate. With over 400,000 followers on social media, Brian has become truly beloved by the online community. He has published three collections of poetry, You Took the Last Bus Home; Alexa, what is there to know about love?; and Days Like These. His novel Diary of a Somebody was shortlisted for the Costa First Novel Award. He has also published a collection of football poetry, 50 Ways to Score a Goal, and his acclaimed poem Refugees has been made into an illustrated book for children.

Read more less

Book Synopsis'A soothing collection to comfort and inspire in those quieter moments of reflection and searching' Cecelia AhernEvery Day is a Fresh Beginning: Meaningful Poems for Life is a stunning collection of poetry chosen by Aoibhín Garrihy to uplift and inspire, delight and comfort. These powerful verses will guide you through the stresses of modern life, touching on themes such as friendship, love, home, parenting, and grief. With lines of classic and contemporary wisdom taken from a wide range of poets including Emily Bronte, W. B. Yeats, Seamus Heaney, Anne Casey and Jan Brierton, this anthology will bring joy to every reader.'It's mind-blowing how ordinary words in the hands of poets can create such powerful magic. As a lover of language Aoibhín has gathered the most beautiful collection of poetry. Now I just need her to read it to me every night!' Kathryn Thomas

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisSturge Town is a stunning collection of poems that connects with the earliest days of Kwame Dawes’ work as a poet, from the roots of childhood in Ghana to the reflections of a man turned sixty who is witnessing his children occupying the space he once considered his own. It ranges from poems that make something special of the everyday, to poems of the most astonishing imaginative leaps. There are poems that speak most movingly of moments of acute self-reflection, family crises and losses through death, and there are the inventive poems of the dramatist drawn to create the stories of a rich variety of characters, many springing from the observation of paintings. Metrically careful and sonorous, these poems engage in a personal dialogue with the reader, serious, confessional, alarmed and sometimes teasing. They create highly visualised spaces, observed, remembered, imagined, the scenes of both outward and inner journeys. Organised in five sections, Sturge Town is a collection of finely shaped individual poems with the architecture of a densely interconnected whole, with the soaring grandeur and intimacy of a cathedral – both above and below ground. As the site of the ruined ancestral home of the Dawes, in one of the earliest post-slavery free villages in Jamaica, Sturge Town is both an actual place, a place of myth and a metaphor of the journeying that has taken Kwame Dawes from Ghana, through Jamaica, through South Carolina and now to Nebraska. It parallels a journeying through time, both personal, family and ancestral in which a keen sense of mortality makes life all the more precious.Trade ReviewA richly intelligent, deeply descriptive exploration of home and identity... this personal odyssey becomes a universal journey. * The Guardian *

Read more less

Book Synopsis'There were three people in my marriage… Three people and twelve legs.' Professor George Grey is world-renowned for her pioneering research into octopus intelligence. Recently bereaved, her closest relationship these days is with her research subject: Frances, who resides in a large, purpose-built tank in George's campus accommodation. But when ambitious anthropologist Harry enters her life, his breathtaking new theory threatens to tear her world apart in more ways than one… A play for two actors – and one octopus – Octopolis by Marek Horn is a fascinating and funny exploration of love, grief and what makes us human. It premiered at Hampstead Theatre, London, in September 2023, directed by Ed Madden.Trade Review'A grownup campus romcom, with profound and complex ideas about consciousness and intelligence' * Guardian *'A tangled, tentacled tale... unabashedly cerebral' * The Times *'Funny, touching, and surprising... an intimate two-hander that reveals itself to be about vastly expansive ideas... Marek Horn's writing is probing and incisive... manages to express very complex ideas, both academic and interpersonal, with a surprising lucidity, and with moments of unexpected comedy... an intricately intellectual piece of theatre, diving headfirst into questions of sentience, religion, grief, and community from a uniquely smart writer... you could watch or read Octopolis several times over and continue to notice something new... if you go to the theatre to think, to learn something, to do some introspection, its unmissable' * Broadway World *'Fascinating... a game of who's-watching-who as a rapid-fire sparring of wits and intellect dive and propel through the murky waters of grief, spirituality and admiring love' * WhatsOnStage *'Engagingly offbeat... challenging ideas balanced with plenty of humour' * The Stage *'Strikingly original and highly entertaining... smart, slightly surreal and quietly touching. This is a romcom that has legs' * Reviews Hub *'Profound... Horn's writing is not only philosophical; it is also bursting with comic one-liners' * Arts Desk *'A witty two-hander with a playful spark in its fiery humour and a thrilling emotional journey... a theatrical delight' * West End Best Friend *

Read more less

Book Synopsis''What is honour? A word. What is in that word ''honour''? What is that ''honour''? Air.''A history play that combines a coming-of-age narrative with a tale of power, rebellion, friendship, and betrayal, Henry IV, Part I has been a perennial favourite from Shakespeare''s time to the present. What has ensured its popularity is above all the towering figure of Falstaff, Shakespeare''s greatest comic creation. The ebullient, unabashedly pleasure-seeking and brilliantly witty character has proved as irresistible for audiences as he was for his protégé, Prince Hal. This introduction discusses their relationship within the framework of the play''s historical, cultural, and performative setting. At the same time, it explores the question of why the play has proved so enduringly attractive to audiences today. The New Oxford Shakespeare offers authoritative editions of Shakespeare''s works with introductory materials designed to encourage new interpretations of the plays and poems. Using the te

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe Wandering Paddy, aka James Mooney, has more than 530,000 followers on social media, a following that's growing at the rate of 20,000 a month, with 6 million account interactions and views a month. His unique perspective on life has resonated with people both in his native Ireland and around the world, as The Wandering Paddy shares his thoughts and experiences, his challenges in overcoming cancer, his mental health struggles and the invaluable life lessons he has learned and can now pass on. The Book of Truths captures the essence of what The Wandering Paddy has learned about life, and this collection will inspire you towards new ways to appreciate the beauty and fragility of life, show you how to embrace your own unique journey and make the most of every precious moment. It's all about living and loving with gratitude and compassion and cherishing the time we have together rather than taking it for granted.With a hugely engaged following, including

Read more less

Book SynopsisA fully annotated critical edition of John Fletcher and Philip Massinger's ground-breaking comedy Love's Cure, or The Martial Maid (1615), a fascinating exploration of the journey of two transgender characters in an adverse heteronormative society. This Revels Plays edition offers a modernised text and a full critical commentary. -- .

Read more less

Book SynopsisAlmost 170 years on, Charlotte Brontë's story of the trailblazing Jane is as inspiring as ever. This bold and dynamic production uncovers one woman's fight for freedom and fulfilment on her own terms.From her beginnings as a destitute orphan, Jane Eyre's spirited heroine faces life's obstacles head-on, surviving poverty, injustice and the discovery of bitter betrayal before taking the ultimate decision to follow her heart.This inventive staging of Brontë''s masterpiece was first staged by Bristol Old Vic in 2014, when the story was performed over two evenings. Director Sally Cookson now brings her celebrated production to the National Theatre, presented as a single, exhilarating performance.Trade Review‘Even in what is fast becoming a very strong opening season from Rufus Norris at the National, Sally Cookson's staging of Jane Eyre still stands out.’ * British Theatre Guide *‘The book has been filleted cleverly… Inventive, moving and at times unexpectedly funny, this is an admirable piece of devised theatre.’ * The Express *‘clever, touching, minimalist yet expansive… makes you see entire new possibilities in theatre. I recommend it with a roar’ * Daily Mail ????? *‘Cookson and her company stripped Charlotte Brontë's novel down to its bones; what was left was plot and emotion… the magic, the passion, the raw pain is allowed to remain intact.’ * Culture Whisper *‘Newcomers and Brontë-holics alike will be gripped, amused and moved by a boldly theatrical show.’ * The Times *‘Sally Cookson’s production is full of wit, resource and invention.’ * Michael Billington, Guardian *'This is a production full of intelligent detail... Original, engaging and unexpectedly funny... an adaptation that Charlotte Bronte herself might have approved.' * Telegraph *‘A continually absorbing achievement.’ * Telegraph *‘A remarkable performance of startling modernity and unaffected honesty.’ * Guardian *‘A vivid two-part adaptation that combines powerful drama and unexpected humour.’ * Financial Times *

Read more less

Book SynopsisFrom the Introduction by Mohammed Sawaie:The Palestinian poets included in The Tent Generations, Palestinian Poems represent different age groups and backgrounds, yet they all express a strong sense of “Palestinian-ness”. They include Israeli citizens, the offspring of those who remained in Palestine after 1948. They also include poets who lived or continue to live in the West Bank and Gaza, areas that are still occupied, or controlled by Israelis as of this writing. Finally, they include poets born in Palestine, but whose families were expelled, or migrated to neighboring Arab countries as a result of the Arab-Israeli wars of the Nakba in 1948, and then of 1967 and 1973.The educational backgrounds of the poets represented here vary. Salem Jubran, Samih al-Qasim, Tawfiq Zayyad, and Marwan Makhoul, for example, were products of the Israeli educational system. Others attended institutions of learning in various Arab countries. Fadwa Tuqan received little formal education in her city of Nablus; she, however, acquired instruction in language, support in writing poetry, and encouragement to publish her poems from her brother, the well-known poet Ibrahim Tuqan, mentioned previously. All these poems are written in fusha Arabic, Modern Standard Arabic, the codified literary, written language shared by educated speakers of Arabic in their various respective regions. Palestinian folkloric poetry, referred to as al-Shi’r al-Sha’bi or Shi’r al-‘Ammiyya, is not included in this work. Folk poetry, richly expressed orally in the Palestinian dialect, ‘Ammiyya, embraces a variety of themes (national pride, panegyric, love, generosity toward guests/strangers, and so on), including the political themes expressed in the poems in this work. There is a rising interest in collecting and preserving this folkloric poetry, and several anthologies of oral poetry as well as studies have recently appeared.The 1948 Nakba, the wars of 1967 and 1973, and their subsequent tragic impact find expression in the work of Palestinian poets. Some of the authors in this collection had firsthand experience of the loss of home, and the up-rootedness from and destruction of their villages and cities. Others acquired knowledge of such experiences, the tragedy that befell Palestinians, through stories told by grandparents or parents, stories of hardship and deprivation transmitted from one generation to another. Thus, poets express in vocabulary specific to the Palestinian experience of the dispossession of homeland, the forced expulsion, the pain of living in the miserable conditions of refugee camps in the diaspora.

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisEdited, introduced and annotated by Cedric Watts, M.A., Ph.D., Emeritus Professor of English, University of Sussex. Richard II is one of Shakespeare’s finest works: lucid, eloquent, and boldly structured. It can be seen as a tragedy, or a historical play, or a political drama, or as one part of a vast dramatic cycle which helped to generate England’s national identity. Today, to some of us, Richard II may appear conservative; but, in Shakespeare’s day, it could appear subversive: ‘I am Richard II’, declared an indignant Queen Elizabeth. Numerous recent revivals in the theatre and on screen have demonstrated the enduring power and poignancy of this drama of the downfall of an egoistic but pitiable monarch. Richard II is the seventeenth volume in the Wordsworth Classics’ Shakespeare Series, in which each volume has been freshly edited by Cedric Watts.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe prolific scholar-poet Callimachus of Cyrene spent his career at the royal court and great Library at Alexandria. Creatively reworking the language and generic properties of his predecessors, Callimachus developed a distinctive style, learned and elegant, that became an important model for subsequent poets both Greek and Roman.

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisEmily Bronte is known as a novelist, but she was first and equally a poet. Before during and after writing Wuthering Heights, she wrote poetry. Indeed, she wrote virtually nothing else for us to read -- no other work of fiction or correspondence. Her poems, however, fill this void. They are varied, lyrical, intriguing, and innovative, yet they are not well known. This book brings an unjustifiably marginalised poet out of the shadows and presents her poetry in a way that enables readers, even those who shy away from poetry, to appreciate her work. Unlike any other collection of Bronte's poetry, this volume arranges selected poems by thematic topic: nature, mutability, love, death, captivity and freedom, hope and despair, imagination, and spirituality. It provides literary and biographical information on each topic and interpretations, explanations, and insights into each poem. Fans of Wuthering Heights wanting more from Emily Bronte will discover that her poetry is as memorable and powerful as her novel. This book is for all who appreciate poetry, especially from the golden age of 19th century verse. The exploration of Emily Bronte's poetic world allows a greater and different understanding of Wuthering Heights and insights into Bronte's fascinating mind.

Read more less

Book SynopsisBased on the rider-waite-smith tarot cards, this book dives into the world of tarot through delicate and illuminating poetry that stirs the soul.Inside this book, you will find 78 poems, one for each card in the Major and Minor Arcana—all a poetic interpretation by the author. An index is included at the back to help readers navigate the poems as primarily this book is intended to be used for “readings,” with blank pages beside each poem for the reader to use however they wish, in essence becoming the co-author of their own copy.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe Arabic poetic legacy is as vast as it is deep, spanning a period of fifteen centuries in regions from Morocco to Iraq. As a unifying principle, editor Marlé Hammond has selected eighty poems reflecting desire and longing of various kinds: for the beloved, for the divine, for the homeland, and for change and renewal. Poets include the legendary pre-Islamic warrior 'Antara Ibn Shaddad, medieval Andalusian poet Ibn Zaydun, the wandering poet Al-A’sha, and the influential Egyptian Romantic Ahmad Zaki Abu Shadi. Here too are literary giants of the past century: Khalil Jibran, author of the bestselling The Prophet; popular Syrian poet Nizar Qabbani; Palestinian feminist Fadwa Tuqan; Mahmoud Darwish, bard of occupation and exile; acclaimed iconoclast Adonis, and more. In their evocations of heroism, nostalgia, mysticism, grief, and passion, the poems gathered here transcend the limitations of time and place.

Read more less

Book SynopsisHis life. In her hands. A shattering play about one woman's unspeakable decision. debbie tucker green's play hang premiered at the Royal Court Theatre, London, in June 2015, in a production directed by the author, and featuring Marianne Jean-Baptiste, Claire Rushbrook and Shane Zaza.Trade Review'Powerfully intense... sits at the sharp end of the capital punishment question' * Guardian *'A stark 60 minutes of staccato poetry… [an] entirely absorbing drama' * Evening Standard *'Stark, probing… poised and poetic, with such pitch-black humour that laughs pop like gasps in reverse' * WhatsOnStage *'A taut, measured piece about the nature of justice and revenge… you find yourself, at the blackout, holding your breath' * The Stage *'Stunning… a fascinating, gripping piece that examines revenge, suffering and human frailties' * Huffington Post *

Read more less

Book SynopsisDante’s dramatic journey through the circles of hell in search of redemption – and his encounter with devils, monsters and the souls of some of the greatest sinners who ever walked on earth – is one of the cornerstones of Western literature, the summit of medieval thinking and arguably the highest poetic achievement of all time. Inferno, the first part of Dante’s Comedy, is presented here in a new verse translation by acclaimed poet and prize-winning translator J.G. Nichols, together with the original text facing, extensive notes, illustrations and a critical apparatus focusing on the author’s life and works.Trade ReviewBravo for this new version of Dante... Bravo, Professor Nichols! * The Church Times *All life is written in Dante's burning pages, and Nichols has done him proud. -- Ian Thomson * The Observer *For sheer liveliness, combined with accuracy and closeness to the text, it will be hard to rival. -- A.N. WilsonThis new translation by J.G. Nichols, clearly grounded in a secure knowledge of and familiarity with Dante and in English verse which is rarely less than competently handled, is one that deserves to be taken seriously and will reward any reader who makes his first encounter with Dante through it. It is an intelligent and sophisticated piece of work. * Acumen Literary Journal *Dante is my spiritual food. -- James Joyce

Read more less

Book SynopsisUnreeling like a series of film clips recorded during a stroll through Paris, Raymond Queneau's Hitting the Streets is wickedly funny. It is also a bittersweet meditation on the effects of time and memory. Hitting the Streets is Queneau's love letters to Paris - a Paris that is always in the process of becoming obsolete. This lively, idiomatic version is the first complete translation available in English.Trade Review'Galvin's electrifying translation forms an exemplary point of departure for the rediscovery of Queneau's poetry.' --David Wheatley, Poetry Review 'I promise you'll love this. Especially if you love Paris.' --Nicholas Lezard, Guardian Paperback of the Week 'Rachel Galvin has met the challenge of Queneau's difficult language with extraordinary aplomb and agility, finding equivalents for the poet's elaborate puns, rhymes, double entendres, and neologisms, even as she keeps intact the colloquial suppleness and playful street slang of Queneau's poetry. Hitting the Streets is an enchanting book, guaranteed to make you smile in recognition.' --Marjorie Perloff 'This book changed Parisians' view of their city and fertilised French poetry as few others have. A book of daydreaming and flanerie, it's absolutely worth hitting the poems' pavement, getting the lay of its loopy land, and sailing away.' --Paul Fournel 'Galvin has caught the verve of the language while also retaining its sound-play - a remarkable achievement - resulting in a stunning book that brings both Paris and the cultural power of language into vivid focus.' --Cole Swensen

Read more less

Book SynopsisNew Selected Poems contains Les Murray's gathering from the full range of his poetry, from poems of the 1960s to work from Taller When Prone (2004) and new poems yet to appear in a collection. Les Murray is one of the finest poets writing today; endlessly inventive, his work celebrates the world and the power of the imagination. New Selected Poems is the poet's choice of his essential works: an indispensable collection for readers who already love his poetry, and an ideal introduction for those new to it.Trade Review'There is no poetry in the English language now so rooted in its sacredness, so broad-leafed in its pleasures, and yet so intimate and conversational.' -- DEREK WALCOTT, The New Republic

Read more less

Book Synopsis‘I can't think of a single person who wouldn't enjoy having this beautiful collection of poetry to dip into when they need a boost' – Good Housekeeping ‘This is supreme bedtime reading.’ – The Lady ‘Go to sleep with the lightest of hearts, with verses from Thomas Hardy, Emily Brontë, Simon Armitage, Wendy Cope and more’ – Townswoman These days we're all in need of a little nugget of happiness to help soothe our weary souls at the end of the day. A Happy Poem to End Every Day provides just that: one sublimely happy poem for every day of the year, from cosy fireside idylls in winter to outdoor adventures in summer, encounters with the beauty of nature in spring and moments of quiet reflection in autumn. It features some of the greatest poets ever to put pen to paper, from William Wordsworth on the joy of skating and Emily Brontë enjoying life on the moors to Simon Armitage catching a cricket ball and Wendy Cope sharing an orange, with a good smattering of classic jolly verse such as Edward Lear's The Owl and the Pussycat. Beautifully illustrated with contemplative scenes of pure happiness, this wonderful book is the perfect way to give yourself a little lift every evening. Keep it by your bedside and it's sure to bring restful sleep and sweet dreams.Trade Review‘Pop this book on your bedside table and create a lovely night time routine’ Psychologies ‘I can't think of a single person who wouldn't enjoy having this beautiful collection of poetry to dip into when they need a boost’ Good Housekeeping ‘A real joy’ Miranda Mills YouTube 'This wonderful compendium of poems, one for every day of the hear, has been curated to being a little light into the world. … It really is one of those rare gifts that keeps on giving.’ WI Life ‘Go to sleep with the lightest of hearts, with verses from Thomas Hardy, Emily Brontë, Simon Armitage, Wendy Cope and more’ Townswoman ‘Beautifully produced and illustrated. The selection of poems is excellent. They are upbeat but not trite, and each one has a fresh and often unexpected take on wildly different experiences of joy … This is supreme bedtime reading.’ The LadyTable of ContentsJanuary: Winter Songs of Birds and Poets 10 February: Gather Round the Fire 46 March: Dancing in the Breeze 86 April: Blessing in the Air 122 May: The Country of Young Laughter 156 June: The Far Horizon Fading Away 194 July: Pleasant Be Thy Dreams 232 August: Feel the Sunshine 270 September: My Spirit is Soaring 308 October: The Golden Times 346 November: Twixt Air and Angels 386 December: Tidings of Comfort and Joy 426 Index of First Lines 464 Index of Poets 470 Acknowledgements 480

Read more less

Book SynopsisA glorious treasury of literary curiosities for every night of the year. Bedside Companion for Book Lovers contains an eclectic mix of fact and fiction, letters, diaries, essays and dedications, all suffused with the joys of books and reading. The perfect gift for the bibliophile in your life, it contains snippets from some of the greatest writers and book collectors from throughout history, including: Charles Dickens on the smell of books Maya Angelou on the pleasures of reading aloud Virginia Woolf on finding space for writing Nick Hornby on reading for pure enjoyment and much more. Along the way, you’ll find advice on how to look after your most precious volumes, what to do when books start taking over your home, and where to find the most atmospheric libraries and bookshops around the world. Keep this beautifully illustrated book by your bedside and wander into a magical world of books every night of the year.Trade Review‘This would be a much-loved and treasured gift for bookworms! From fact and fiction, to letters and diaries, be greeted by the beauty of the written word’ Love Reading ‘The perfect gift for any book lover, with a mix of letters and diaries, both fact and fiction’ Prima ‘This is the perfect book for any bookworm… a real classic in the making’ Miranda Mills YouTubeTable of ContentsJanuary: An Illimitable Choice 10February: Frivolous and Idle Books 46March: A Stroke of the Pen 78April: Something Sensational to Read 112May: Encouraging Early Bookishness 146June: The Poet and the Dreamer 182July: I Always Took a Book 216August: Bibliomania, or Book-madness 252September: In an Elbow-chair at Ease 288October: The Art of Bookbinding 324November: An Abundant Library 358December: The Craft of Genius 394Index: 430Acknowledgements 444

Read more less