The language of Poetry is an art that most of us attempt at some point in our lives. Although its commonplace exposure has been somewhat marginalised in today’s often fast-paced lives we all recognise good verse that can empathise with our thoughts or open us up to experience new things in new ways, to better understand and to enjoy the many strands of our lives.But finding a starting point can be overwhelming, even off-putting, so in this series we offer up our Top 10 classic poet...

Sometimes we just want the best. But that involves choices, judgements, decisions. And that all depends on our feelings, our mood at the time.Even more so with Poetry. Would we like a little more pathos, or love, or humour with that? Can we only choose one Keats? And ’If’? Surely Kipling wrote something else?So difficult to decide. This one or that? Is it easier to choose your fifty favourite poets or your fifty favourite poems?The argument can go on forever, certai...

William Collins Books and Decca Records are proud to present ARGO Classics, a historic catalogue of classic fiction read by some of the world’s most renowned voices. Originally released as vinyl records, these expertly abridged and remastered stories are now available to download for the first time.A collection of the greatest poetry from the Romantic period, the battlefield, and the Victorian era, read by some of the 20th century’s most renowned actors.The...

Maine to Greenland is a testament to one of the world's great geographic regions: the Maritime Far Northeast. For more than three decades, William W. Fitzhugh and Wilfred E. Richard have explored the Northeast’s Atlantic corridor and its fascinating history, habitat, and culture. The authors’ powerful personal essays and Richard’s stunning photography transport readers to this vibrant region, joining Smithsonian archaeological expeditions and trekking in vast and amazing terrain. ...

The language of Poetry is an art that most of us attempt at some point in our lives. Although its commonplace exposure has been somewhat marginalised in today’s often fast-paced lives we all recognise good verse that can empathise with our thoughts or open us up to experience new things in new ways, to better understand and to enjoy the many strands of our lives.But finding a starting point can be overwhelming, even off-putting, so in this series we offer up our Top 10 classic poet...

Wilfred Owen was born on 18th March 1893 at Plas Wilmot, near Oswestry in Shropshire, the eldest of four childrenWilfred’s education was initially at the Birkenhead Institute and then later at Shrewsbury Technical school.His mothers strong Anglican views passed through to Wilfred and the bible along with books on the Romantic Poets, particularly John Keats were particular favourites and contributed to his initial devotion to the Church.By 1909 Wilfred was a pupil-te...

In the War a great volume of poetry was written, produced and published in books, periodicals, newspapers or letters back to home. We often think of War as a necessity. We fight for a more just and better world. We often fail. But in our poets we gain a truth and a morality that shocks us, consoles us and holds our values to the light. In this volume we hear poems from the front, from home, from soldiers, from auxiliaries, from friend and from foe.War and poetry seem somehow alien ...

War may be rationalized as ‘diplomacy by other means’ but the reality is that when tribes, Nations and peoples bring themselves into armed conflict with one another mayhem, terror and slaughter are the result.In the First World War, The Great War, The War to End all Wars any idealistic aims that it was a ‘just cause’ and would be all over in a few months were shattered against the vast scale of millions dead or wounded all for the often temporary gains of a few miles of shell-pocke...

Love. What is love?The question is asked by each of us but the answer remains elusive.Dictionaries summon up many words but none fulfill. Love itself is often ethereal, felt but only seen in a glance, a look, a fleeting touch. Part of Love’s beauty is perhaps in the fact that the question never can be adequately answered; its ephemeral, a chimera of the heart and only felt.Our own experiences are unique and personal to ourselves and of little help defining it for an...

The fourth month of the year in the Gregorian calendar heralds Spring in earnest and of course April Showers and perhaps other unsettled weather. For out poets including Owen, Stevenson, Van Dyke, Hardy and Shelley the month provides a rich source for them to muse upon. Among our readers are Richard Mitchley and Ghizela Rowe. The tracks are; April - An Introduction; An April Fool By Alfred Austin; Child's Talk In April By Christina Georgina Rossetti; An April Day By Henry Wadsworth Longfel...

This proud nation with it’s long history; sometimes rough, hewn from bleak landscapes, sometimes gently soft from its comforting voices has produced a long succession of artists and poets. In the latter category Louis MacNeice most probably stands pre-eminent, his words and phrasing are on a plane few can equal and most are in awe of. But in this volume we do put forward others who have their own words and voice to add to this rich tapestry. Wilfred Owen, Henry Vaughan, George Herbert and ...

The language of Poetry is an art that most of us attempt at some point in our lives. Although its commonplace exposure has been somewhat marginalised in today’s often fast-paced lives we all recognise good verse that can empathise with our thoughts or open us up to experience new things in new ways, to better understand and to enjoy the many strands of our lives.But finding a starting point can be overwhelming, even off-putting, so in this series we offer up our Top 10 classic poet...