The Forward Book of Poetry 2014

by Various, Michael Symmons Roberts, Emily Berry

This glorious anthology showcases the best of contemporary British and Irish poetry over the last year and is the perfect introduction both to poets at the top of their form and a new generation of startling voices: more than 60 writers in all. The eBook features exclusive interviews, available only in this edition, making it a must for all who thirst to know more about new writing.
The book includes poems from collections shortlisted for Britain's most coveted poetry awards - the Forward Poetry Prizes - plus 50 poems highly commended by the judges. The poets interviewed are those shortlisted for 2013 Best Collection awards: Emily Berry, Marianne Burton, Steve Ely, Rebecca Goss, Hannah Lowe, Glyn Maxwell, Sinead Morrissey, Jacob Polley, Dan O'Brien, Michael Symmons Roberts and Adam White.
The anthology - the 22nd of its kind - is introduced by Jeannette Winterson, who chaired the jury which chose the Prizes' three winners from a shortlist of 16 and 50 highly commended poems. contents. The jurors - Paul Farley, Sheenagh Pugh, David Mills and Samuel West - read a total of 162 recently published poetry collections and 159 single poems before settling on the ones they loved most. In the words of Winterson, this is "a genuine showcase of the scope and depth of poetry now".
If you buy only one poetry book this year, this deserves to be it.

Genres: Poetry, Unfinished

144 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 3, 2013

About the author

Various is the correct author for any book with multiple unknown authors, and is acceptable for books with multiple known authors, especially if not all are known or the list is very long (over 50).

If an editor is known, however, Various is not necessary. List the name of the editor as the primary author (with role "editor"). Contributing authors' names follow it.

Note: WorldCat is an excellent resource for finding author information and contents of anthologies.

Reviews

[Peter Longden · Rating 4 out of 5]

In awarding a prize for and putting out an anthology purporting to give a view of the year’s best contemporary poetry, the Forward Prize and Book will challenge its readers as well as reward them with superb examples of new and existing poets. In the foreword, Jeanette Winterson puts into context how she views the 2014 book, which has remarkable echoes of what the world faces in 2022, when she says: “Poetry is the bomb and the safe exploding of the bomb…modern life is in a state of siege. We know that the world is run by the rich for the rich and it appears that there is nothing we can do about it. Our common wealth has been destroyed by greed. Our planet is being destroyed by greed and desperation. The poor are poorer”. Yet she gives a glimmer of hope that “The poem as the bomb is the poem as the flash of energy capable of blasting an opening into our private bunker.”
The many poems in this book gives just that with excellent offerings, such as: Glyn Maxwell’s The Byelaws; The Coal Jetty by Sinéad Morrissey; the marvellous imagery of Jean Sprackland’s Moving the Piano and the funny We Should Call a Man by John Osborne.
What is clear from reading the Forward books is that contemporary poetry is as strong and relevant as ever, with the voices of some remarkable poets to be listened to and enjoyed.

[Lucy Morrice · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not bad just realised poetry isn’t for me x

[Lauren]

Just taking this one slowly and savouring it... may take me a while!

[Dave · Rating 5 out of 5]

A phenomenal anthology... As I said when I started out on this poetic journey, the Foreword explosively delivers a sensory experience that highlights what is to follow.

I've got two of FORWARD's collections. I've just purchased another two. They've helped satiate my desire to write, explore and express myself, and contributed to my winning a competition on National Poetry Day :-)

[Sarah]

I m not a huge poetry fan but there are some hidden gems in this collection

[Carolyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyed it but poetry did not format properly as a Kindle read. good for reference in that format but need book format to appreciate fully

[Alex · Rating 2 out of 5]

Overall I was pretty disappointed with this collection - there were only twelve or so poems in the whole book that I actually liked.