Poems of London

by Christopher Reid (Editor)

Poems of London brings together a remarkably wide range of poems inspired by the storied city, from its teeming medieval streets to the multicultural metropolis it is today.
The pantheon of classic English poets, from Shakespeare and Donne to Wordsworth and Blake to T. S. Eliot and Ted Hughes, provide their views of London alongside tributes by notable visitors including Arthur Rimbaud, Samuel Beckett, and Sylvia Plath. Here, too, are poetic contributions by an array of immigrants and the children of immigrants, including Linton Kwesi Johnson, Fleur Adcock, Patience Agbabi, and Booker Prize-winner Bernardine Evaristo. All the famous sights of London, from the Thames to the Tower, are touched on in this vibrant collection, and denizens of its busy streets, ranging from princes to pub-goers to pickpockets, wander through these pages. The result is an enthralling portrait of an endlessly varied and fascinating place.

Genres: Poetry

280 pages, Hardcover

Published October 7, 2021

About the author

Christopher Reid, FRSL is a Hong Kong-born British poet, essayist, cartoonist, and writer. He has been nominated twice for the Whitbread Awards in 1996 and in 1997. A contemporary of Martin Amis, he was educated at Exeter College, Oxford. He is one of the exponents of Martian poetry which employs unusual metaphors to render everyday experiences and objects unfamiliar. He has worked as poetry editor at Faber and Faber and Professor of Creative Writing at the University of Hull. In January 2010 he was awarded the 2009 Costa Book Award for A Scattering, written as a tribute to his late wife, the actress Lucinda Gane. The work won in the poetry category, and overall Best Book of the Year, becoming the first poet to take the overall prize since Seamus Heaney in 1999.

Reviews

[Joshua · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sometimes magical but sometimes random and disappointing. This book was at its best when it grouped poems across time discussing the same perennial or ever changing features of London. But to fully appreciate this, it was often necessary to research each poem individually. Annotations would definitely have helped. But many of the poems were quite beautiful and it was, on the whole, an entertainingly unusual collection.

[Manya Saxena · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Poems of London" from the Everyman’s Library Pocket Poets series is a charming little collection that captures the spirit, grit, and beauty of England’s capital through verse. It’s a love letter, a lament, and a living portrait of the city, curated with a keen sense of history and literary resonance.

The selection is impressively broad, spanning centuries and styles—from William Blake’s prophetic visions to contemporary musings on urban life. The book flows like a stroll through London itself, shifting from the grandeur of Westminster to the humdrum of tube stations, from the river’s timeless pull to the ever-changing skyline. Poets like Wordsworth, Eliot, and Larkin rub shoulders with newer voices, making it a well-rounded anthology for both casual readers and poetry aficionados.

That said, while the collection is strong, it sometimes leans more toward nostalgia and grandeur rather than capturing the full spectrum of London’s modern, multicultural vibrancy. A few more contemporary, diverse perspectives would have made it feel even more alive.

Still, as a pocket-sized treasure, it delivers what it promises—a poetic map of London, full of heart and history. It’s perfect for dipping into on a rainy afternoon or while wandering the city’s streets.

[Radwa Mousa · Rating 3 out of 5]

One star because I liked the concept of it.
Another because it was a good find at the Southbank market and a perfect London souvenir.
النجمة الأخيرة عشان فتح في دماغي سؤال عن القاهرة وموقعها من الشعر و الشعراء وحاليا مقتنعه أني لقيت فكرة مشروع أدبي رائع محتاجه اتقاعد في أقرب وقت عشان اتفرغله!

[Bailey Tolentino · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the best thing I have ever read
(or, rather, this was the most enjoyable reading experience I’ve ever had).
The fact that I’m in love with London definitely helps!

[Lawrence Hall · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fine anthology save for some vulgar (“contemporary,” I suppose), artless, middle-school-jakes yowlings toward the end.

[Fleur · Rating 3 out of 5]

This anthology is an educational journey through the history of London, seen from the artistic perspectives of those who were a part of it. Sadly a lot of the poems showcased here are just not to my taste. And I would’ve liked some more contemporary work.