The Forward Book of Poetry 2015

by Jeremy Paxman (Foreword)

The Forward Book of Poetry showcases a selection of the best contemporary poetry published in the British Isles over the last year, including the winners of 2014's prestigious Forward Poetry Prizes. It is introduced by Jeremy Paxman, chairman of the 2014 Forward Prizes judges. Their final recommendations give a strong sense of the variety, vitality and wit present in poetry today, making this anthology - the 23rd in an annual series - valuable to both first-time poetry readers and those keen to find more new poetry to enjoy. If you buy only one poetry book this year, this is it.

Genres: Poetry

175 pages, Paperback

First published September 30, 2014

About the author

Jeremy Dickson Paxman is a British journalist, author and television presenter. He has worked for the BBC since 1977. He is noted for a forthright and abrasive interviewing style, particularly when interrogating politicians. His regular appearances on the BBC2's Newsnight programme have been criticised as aggressive, intimidating, condescending and irreverent, and applauded as tough and incisive.

Reviews

[Dave · Rating 5 out of 5]

A brilliant anthology. No real surprises there, really.

The latter part of it is filled with some absolute gems...

[Peter Longden · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another fascinating collection of the best poetry from Britain and Ireland brought together for the Forward Prize. This is the tenth volume I’ve read and enjoyed. Jeremy Paxman who curated the collection as the ‘Common Reader’ and as someone “who comes to poetry to be delighted, comforted or alerted, to see the ordinary as extraordinary, the everyday as profound, to have the world reimagined, language revived.” has found just that in this collection. The poems will not all be appreciated by everyone; but if some stir the emotions, thoughtfulness and leave an impression, then Forward have achieved what they set out to do.
There are a core of excellent pieces that I really enjoyed and among them my favourites are Colette Bryce’s DERRY; THE HORSE AND RIDER by Louise Glück “But to abandon you, said the other, would be to leave a part of myself behind, and how can I do that when I do not know which part you are?”; and Beatrice Garland for BEACH HOLIDAY and LADY AND FOX, which captures the essence of fox with such clarity.
Great insight into the best poetry of that year and a way to spend a few relaxing hours appreciating what Jeremy describes as “The arresting phrase, the telling metaphor, the resonant rhyme…like a first kiss”.

[Preyash · Rating 2 out of 5]

My favourite poems in this collection were: Derry, by Colette Bryce, Among The Gods (Persephone), by Helen Tookey, and Hurricane by Mir Mahfuz Ali. They all evoke a strong mood and feel pleasing on the tongue when spoken aloud.

There were a fair few poems in this that I liked, but I didn't care for the majority of them.

[Cooch · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good year

This is one of the better Forward poetry books. There are some excellent poems (5 star) here which make the collection well worth buying.There are, to my mind, only one or two poor poems.