The shortlist for the T S Eliot Prize for Poetry 2012 has just been announced:
* Simon Armitage The Death of King Arthur (Faber)
* Sean Borodale Bee Journal (Jonathan Cape)
* Gillian Clarke Ice (Carcanet)
* Julia Copus The World’s Two Smallest Humans (Faber)
* Paul Farley The Dark Film (Picador)
* Jorie Graham P L A C E (Carcanet)
* Kathleen Jamie The Overhaul (Picador)
* Sharon Olds Stag’s Leap Jonathan (Cape)
* Jacob Polley The Havocs (Picador)
* Deryn Rees-Jones Burying the Wren (Seren)
The Poetry Book Society is offering reading groups the chance to get involved with the best contemporary poetry through the T S Eliot Prize reading group scheme which aims to encourage reading groups to read poetry. Reading group guides with a biography and a photo of all 10 poets and three poems from their book, together with reading group notes are now available.
The judges of this year’s Prize are Chair Carol Ann Duffy, Michael Longley and David Morley. The winner of the 2012 Prize will be announced at the award ceremony on Monday 14 January 2013.
Download reading group guides
To get your reading group started, download the reading group guide to all the shortlisted poets. Download the individual reading group guides from the Poetry Book Society website, where you can also vote for your favourite poet.
Discounts and prize draw
Reading groups can get generous discounts on each title and sign up for a weekly email with background information and updates.
You can also enter the draw for tickets for the celebratory T S Eliot Prize Readings at the Royal Festival Hall on London’s Southbank on Sunday 13 January 2013.
Overcome your fears
If your reading group is feeling a bit uncertain about reading poetry take a look at the Who’s afraid of T S Eliot? blog post by Pam Johnson where she highlights the fears and prejudices that often surround the reading of contemporary poetry and suggests ways to overcome them.
If you are thinking of setting up a poetry reading group, Pam also gives an insight into being part of a poetry reading group.
Find a poetry reading group to join.
Take a look at our Poetry Champions who’ve been reading and blogging about the Winning Words anthology.
If you’re part of a poetry reading group and would like to tell us about it please do get in touch, we’d love to hear from you.
