London: A Collection of Poetry of Place

by Barnaby Rogerson (Editor)

This is the first book in a new series of pocket-sized poetry books for travelers and poetry lovers who seek inspiration while on a bus, subway train, or taxi, or while waiting for a museum to open. Here is the poetry of London, from the up-beat rap-poetry of Benjamin Zephaniah to Wordsworth's dawn sigh. From the catchpenny verses of Oranges and Lemons and London Bridge is Falling Down, to the ecstatic visions of Keats, Milton, and Blake. From the first lines of Anglo-Saxon verse to lines retrieved from a bar last year. It's a collection full of irony, delight, and personal grief. Some other poets included are Shakespeare, T.S. Eliot, Alan Jenkins, John Betjeman, Bacon, Wilde, and Blake.

144 pages, Paperback

First published June 15, 2004

About the author

Barnaby Rogerson (1960-) is a British author, television presenter and publisher. He has written extensively about the Muslim world, including a biography of the Islamic prophet Muhammad, and numerous travel guides. Rogerson was born in Dunfermline, Scotland, and studied Medieval History at St Andrews University

Reviews

[Georgette Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovely little selection of poems about my favourite city. Speaking pragmatically, it's small enough to keep in your bag but as the text is quite compact there's nevertheless a lot in it. I like the fact that there are interesting chunks of information dotted about that give historical background and help to locate you in the city. It'll probably stay in my handbag for ever now. You're never alone with a poem.