Product Description

Emergency Kit is an anthology with many differences. It is, to begin with, a book which gives prominence to poems rather than to the poets who wrote them. It is truly international, bringing together poems not just from these islands but from many parts of the English-speaking world. It is the first book to identify a strain in the poetry of the last half-century which is characteristic of the 'strange times' we live in - an age when, as the editors note, scientific discovery itself has encouraged us to 'make free with the boundaries of realism'. It values imagination, surprise, vivid expression, the outlandish and the playful above ideology and sententiousness. It is, in short, living proof that poetry in the English language continues to thrive and to matter.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #38132 in Books
• Published on: 2004-09-02
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 336 pages

Customer Reviews

essential poetry kit
I have many poetry anthologies on my shelves but this is the one I return to most often. The editors have worked hard to select the most imaginative, inventive and often downright weird poems of the often downright weird twentieth century. Much of the work here could be characterized as surreal or postmodern but the editors have carefully chosen only the more accessible work of giants such as Charles Simic, Frank O'Hara, Elizabeth Bishop and Paul Muldoon (though my own personal favourite is Don Paterson's 'A Private Bottling'). Well worth your time.

A dazzling mix of contemporary poetry.
This book is exactly what it claims to be. It is essential reading of the moment, with outstanding work from Simon Armitage, Tony Harrison and Jackie Kay to mention just a few names. The variety of writing in this anthology is the most stunning element it leaves no poetical stone unturned.

The best of contemporary poetry
Just a wonderful collection of some of the finest poetry of our time. Great soul food.