From the intrepid explorers who discovered the New World to modern-day commuters, journeys have always played a fundamental part in our lives. In The Nations Favourite Poems of Journeys poets from throughout the ages explore not just the physical, but also the spiritual and emotional journeys that we undertake as we progress through life. The sadness of seeing a loved one depart on a long voyage, the wonder of seeing new lands and meeting new people the web of emotions reflected in this fascinating anthology is complex and varied. Alun Lewis describes the poignancy of lovers parting forever in Goodbye while Tennyson captures an insatiable wanderlust in Ulysses. Laurie Lee celebrates England and homecoming in Home from Abroad whereas in Do Not Go Gentle into That Good Night Dylan Thomas ponders the final and ultimate journey that we make: life into death. Packed with a rich variety of wonderful poems, The Nations Favourite Poems of Journeys is sure to become a greatly treasured companion as you travel through life. The foreword is to be written by Benedict Allen

This wonderful anthology contains some of the nation's all-time favourite comic poetry. From much-loved classics such as Lewis Carroll's curious 'Jabberwocky' to lesser known and forgotten gems such as Gelett Burgess's 'The Purple Cow', Griff Rhys Jones takes us on a poetic tour of witty, nonsensical and plain laugh-out-loud funny poems. The selection brings together poets from every age and every walk of life, from Shakespeare to Victoria Wood and from Keats to Benjamin Zephaniah. There is Roald Dahl's cunning variation on 'Little Red Riding Hood', Spike Milligan's brilliantly ridiculous 'On the Ning Nang Nong' as well as several entries from the ever-elusive Anon, including one delightfully succint 'Peas'. Remembered, half-remembered, cherished or written on a tea towel, here are some of the nation's favourite comic poems.

This lovely book of poetry brings together over 100 of the most celebrated and cherished poems of the 20th century. Including poets as diverse as John Betjeman and Ted Hughes, Siegfried Sassoon and Allan Ahlberg, and subjects from all avenues of life - war, family life, love, death, religion, the countryside, animals and comedy - the whole breadth of the nation's life during the 20th century is encapsulated here. Compiled and edited by Griff Rhys Jones as part of the successful The Nations Favourite Poems series, this book brings together the wealth of new and innovative poetry styles that flourished in the 20th Century.

Contains the top 100 poems from a poll conducted by The Bookworm in 1995.

From celebrating the birth of a baby through memories of childhood recalled in later life, to the joy of friendship and the delight of finding love, there are many moments of happiness to be cherished in our lives. Arranged thematically around significant stages in our lives, poets of every age find cause for celebration in a selection of 100 popular poems: Sylvia Plath marvels at her child in "You're"; Dylan Thomas on his thirtieth birthday finds his heart singing with the joy he felt as a young boy; Shakespeare, John Donne and many others celebrate the power of love; while Walt Whitman and Anne Finch find pleasure in their solitude. Including much-loved classics and humorous, poignant and evocative verse, this delightfully upbeat collection celebrates both those smaller moments of pleasure and those that mark the major stages in our lives.

More than any other topic, animals have provided the inspiration for poets throughout the ages. Whether it's marvelling at the beauty of birdsong on a winters day in The Song Thrush by Thomas Hardy or DH Lawrence ranting at a troublesome insect in Mosquito there are many great works dealing with the beauty of animals, the way man and animal work together or simply wcndering at the beauty and dedication of a loved pet. The Nation's Favourite Animal Poems will provide valuable, humorous and emotional insights into the relationship between humans and animals.

It might surprise you who’s a fan of poetry — when it meets them where they are. Before he became an award-winning writer and poet, Brian Sonia-Wallace set up a typewriter on the street with a sign that said “Poetry Store” and discovered something surprising: all over America, people want poems. An amateur busker at first, Brian asked countless strangers, “What do you need a poem about?” To his surprise, passersby opened up to share their deepest yearnings, loves, and heartbreaks. Hundreds of them. Then thousands. Around the nation, Brian’s poetry crusade drew countless converts from all walks of life. In The Poetry of Strangers, Brian tells the story of his cross-country journey in a series of heartfelt and insightful essays. From Minnesota to Tennessee, California to North Dakota, Brian discovered that people aren’t so afraid of poetry when it’s telling their stories. In “dying” towns flourish vibrant artistic spirits and fascinating American characters who often pass under the radar, from the Mall of America’s mall walkers to retirees on Amtrak to self-proclaimed witches in Salem. In a time of unprecedented loneliness and isolation, Brian’s journey shows how art can be a vital bridge to community in surprising places. Conventional wisdom says Americans don’t want to talk to each other, but according to this poet-for-hire, everyone is just dying to be heard. Thought-provoking, moving, and eye-opening, The Poetry of Strangers is an unforgettable portrait of America told through the hidden longings of one person at a time, by one of our most important voices today. The fault lines and conflicts which divide us fall away when we remember to look, in every stranger, for poetry.