Poetry for the Many: An Anthology

by Jeremy Corbyn, Len McCluskey, Karie Murphy (Introduction)

Jeremy Corbyn and Len McCluskey collaborated to help achieve the biggest electoral success for socialism in recent British history. The two men share a passionate belief in a fairer, more equal Britain, encapsulated in Labour’s election slogan “For the many, not the few.” That slogan, inspired by Shelley’s famous poem The Masque of Anarchy, points to something else the two have in a lifelong enthusiasm for poetry. In this sparkling anthology they discuss the poems that have moved and enlightened them. Their choices travel over centuries and continents, with poets ranging from Shakespeare and Juana de la Cruz, through William Blake and Emily Dickinson, to Bertolt Brecht, Stevie Smith and Linton Kwesi Johnson. Rounding out the collection are appreciations of poems selected by guest contributors  Melissa Benn, Rob Delaney, Julie Hesmondhalgh, Ken Loach, Morag Livingstone, Francesca Martinez, Karie Murphy, Maxine Peake, Michael Rosen, Alexei Sayle  and  Gary Younge . With the burgeoning popularity of poetry, especially among Gen Z, this joyful celebration of the power of verse is bound to delight and inspire across a wide audience. All royalties from sales of this book will be donated to the Peace and Justice Project.

Genres: Poetry

224 pages, Hardcover

First published November 5, 2024

About the author

Jeremy Bernard Corbyn is an English politician who has been Member of Parliament (MP) for Islington North since 1983. He currently sits as an independent, and is the interim leader of Your Party, which he cofounded with Zarah Sultana in July 2025. Corbyn had previously been a member of the Labour Party from 1965 until his expulsion in 2024, and served as Leader of the Opposition and Leader of the Labour Party from 2015 to 2020 and was a member of the Socialist Campaign Group parliamentary caucus. He identifies ideologically as a socialist on the political left.

Reviews

[Aidan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the majority of this collection. I'm taking off a star just for a few poems that I just had no interest in, or started reading them and then skipped them. I wish there was a Bertolt Brecht poem in this collection, not just a mention.

[Arlene · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a brilliant collection. Powerful, radical, eclectic. There are a lot of classics that you'll probably be familiar with here (I don't recommend reading Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night by Dylan Thomas in a cafe a week after you've watched a parent die btw) but, like all good anthologies, there were new discoveries that I want to follow up. From Moss Side: For Morris by Carla Henry made me want to read more of Carla Henry's work and to find out more about Olive Elaine Morris, and Welling by Hannah Lowe is so evocative, I definitely need to read more of her poems. And Jeremy Corbyn is a much better poet than you might think. (he is, shut up)

[Senioreuge · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are a substantial number of poetry anthologies filling countless shelves with some celebrity or others personal favourites, these offer an added insight into the collectors background, ambitions and character.
None I have read before were of poems selected because of their working class/ socialist ambitions of the writers and compilers and of the radical strain that ran through the selections. Well this one does precisely what it says on the tin, it offers poetry for the many. And before you get turned off by this it is not a doom and gloom collection, bemoaning the state of the country, with a poor me sigh. Rather it is uplifting in that it offers, at times rough images, but hope and reflection as well as rejoicing. The 2 main selectors are both well known Jeremy Corbyn was for a number of years the leader of the British Labour Party The focal point for the rise of progressive popular politics who created the biggest mass participation membership of any political party in Europe. Removing control of the party away from the professional political class. Now alas being dismantled. Len McCluskey after a lifetime of labouring for the TGWU and latterly UNITE, was elected as General Secretary of Britain's and Irelands biggest Trade Union, Unite. He also was instrumental in driving the change in the British Labour Party together with Jeremy.
The process of this volume of poems was driven by Karie Murphy, who for a time was the chief of staff of the Labour Party and its clear that its her organisational skills ensured the quality and messaging of the book. The volume boasts other contributors who are well known in their own fields and it is interesting to see their choices of poems. All the royalties from the sales go to "THE PEACE AND JUSTICE PROJECT" . Well worth the read.

[Anthony · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jeremy Corbyn & Len McCluskey (2023) POETRY FOR THE MANY
London. OR Books

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5 out of 5 stars

The sleeve reads, "Jeremy Corbyn and Len McCluskey collaborated to help achieve the biggest electoral success for socialism in recent British history. The two men share a passionate belief in a fairer, more equal Britain, encapsulated in Labour’s election slogan 'For the many, not the few'. That slogan, inspired by Shelley’s famous poem The Masque of Anarchy, points to something else the two have in common: a lifelong enthusiasm for poetry. In this sparkling anthology they discuss the poems that have moved and enlightened them. Their choices travel over centuries and continents, with poets ranging from Shakespeare and Juana de la Cruz, through William Blake and Emily Dickinson, to Bertolt Brecht, Stevie Smith and Linton Kwesi Johnson. Rounding out the collection are appreciations of poems selected by guest contributors Melissa Benn, Rob Delaney, Julie Hesmondhalgh, Ken Loach, Morag Livingstone, Francesca Martinez, Karie Murphy, Maxine Peake, Michael Rosen, Alexei Sayle and Gary Younge. With the burgeoning popularity of poetry, especially among Gen Z, this joyful celebration of the power of verse is bound to delight and inspire across a wide audience."
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"YE ARE MANY, THEY ARE FEW"
Poetry just isn't my bag. But I rate Jeremy Corbyn very highly. Hence dipping my toe into the pool of poetry by getting this particular book. It's a really interesting read!
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#JeremyCorbyn #LenMcCluskey #PoetryForTheMany #Book #Books #Read #Reads #Reading #Review #Reviews #BookReview #BookReviews #GoodReads

[Fiona · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rise like Lions after slumber
In unvanquishable number,
Shake your chains to earth like dew
Which in sleep had fallen on you –
Ye are many – they are few.’

The title of this book is inspired by this final stanza from the political ballad The Masque of Anarchy by Percy Bysshe Shelley. This stanza was a favourite to quote by the former leader of the British Labour Party, Jeremy Corbyn who co-edited this anthology with Len McClusky a prominent British Trade Unionist.

Prior to reading this collection I was not familiar with The Masque of Anarchy which was written by Shelley in response to the 1819 Peterloo Massarce, where hundreds of working class people who had gathered to demand reform to parliamentary representation where killed or injured when the government sent the cavalry in to dispel the protest.

Many of the poems like the one that inspired the title deal with social issues and the proceeds from sales of the book are going to a peace and justice project.

I enjoyed reading the poems in this book there were some that I knew already and others I didn’t. I also enjoyed reading Jeremy and Len’s introductions about their mutual love of poetry.

[Adam Pearson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful collection of poems selected by Jeremy and Len, as well as all the other calloborators. Each poem is preceeded by a word from the one who selected it, describing the meaning they take from it as well as how it has affected them personally.

It relates the poems to social issues relevant today, and ties them back to social issues relevant at the time they were penned. In this way I find that it offers unique perspectives on poems that are often 100, 200 years old

I feel like this is an anthology that I will pick up over and over again.

[Jonathan Hart · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book does exactly what I wanted it to do - give a little bit of reasoning behind each poem selection that gives a little insight about the poem and also about Len and Jeremy. Both Len and Jeremy picks were an excellent mix between well known classics that are a joy to return to and more obscure poems that have hit my heart. It is a political book by these political figures but it’s a political book that inspires and transcends politics and ultimately just feels incredibly human. Ye are many. They are few.

[Mike Collins · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really wanted to like this book more than I did, given that the authors, especially JC, are to my mind people of great integrity. But, some of the poetry - some of which doesn't even seem to me to be actual poetry - is often turgid and dull, albeit of merit, I'm sure. There are exceptions, notably the very last poem, the brilliant Warning, by Jenny Joseph, but not many.

[Iris Core · Rating 5 out of 5]

Makes sense that Corbyn and McCluskey would have excellent taste in poetry, but the introductions to the poems is what really sold me on this anthology. It really brings a level of emotion and connection to modern politics which has been missing for a long time, just a brilliant idea of a book and I'm so happy it exists

[elijah · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really wanted to like this book, but I found so many of the poems kind of dull (personal preference), and a lot of the introductions just read very weirdly to me, a lot of them sounded like something I would write in a school assignment, vibes-wise. It also wasn't radical enough for me, I don't think. Maybe I just don't get posh well educated British people idk

[kez ʚɞ · Rating 5 out of 5]

i was surprised but happy to see a few poems not only by scottish poets, but also written partially in scots! i loved all the poems they chose. so many great insights on a variety of social issues, some being especially relevant right now.

[Reesa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Each poem is accompanied by a short passage explaining why it was chosen/ a bit about it. Really enjoyable!

[Simon Burdus · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really enjoyable collections of poems accompanied by insightful reflections from Jeremy Corbyn, Len McCluskey and other celebrated Lefties.

[Scarlett Barnes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a good collection of politically motivated poetry. Love Jeremy Corbyn and I have so much respect for what this book aimed to achieve.

[Hazel · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really great mix of poems, each one introduced in a way I really appreciated. Some brought me tears and some gave me understanding. Highly recommended.

[Ryan O'Malley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this Anthology so much. It’s political but not only political. My new favorite poetry collection

[Lisa Shuttleworth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great reminder of brilliant poems with interesting insights from interesting people

[allyson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm not typically a poetry fan but this was a delightful read.

[Mister Oolong · Rating 5 out of 5]

A collection of lovely poems for the politically inclined.

[Nigel Stock · Rating 5 out of 5]

I saw this book advertised in the New Statesman and loved the idea of it. My plan was to read 1 poem every day. Within 3 days ago and it was going really well. It looks like it is going to be everything I hoped for. I also doubled the number of poetry books that I own and its not Wilfred Owen. Great selection of poets loosely linked by the notion that we should live in a society that is (self?) governed for the benefit of the many rather than for and by the few.

I recommend the book and the idea of reading 1 poem of every day

[Will · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fantastic!