The Penguin Book of Elegy by Andrew Motion and Stephen Regan review – surprisingly uplifting
From Charlotte Brontë grieving Emily to Ted Hughes lamenting a lamb, this exceptional anthology of poems is full of scholarly discernment
May 2023
Sleeping on Islands by Andrew Motion review – candid stories from the former poet laureate
A revealing memoir illuminates the conflict between wordly success and creative freedom
February 2023
Audiobook of the week
The Drifted Stream audiobook review – Andrew Motion celebrates poetry’s rich oral tradition
David Rintoul and Shaheen Khan are among the actors who read from Motion’s anthology of British and Irish poetry, spanning from the 14th century to the present day
September 2022
Five men and one woman who took on impossible job – of poet laureate
Several of the poets appointed by, or inherited by the Queen, had to deal with public mockery. No wonder Philip Larkin turned down the role
May 2019
'Simon Armitage knows where the heffalump traps are': Andrew Motion on how to be poet laureate
Hunt for next poet laureate still on as Imtiaz Dharker says no to job
November 2018
Wanted: one royal versifier – an interest in trees and homeopathy an advantage
Catherine Bennett
With Carol Ann Duffy bowing out as poet laureate, others are courting the honour
October 2018
Andrew Motion uses headstone tributes to write new war poem
Former poet laureate drew inspiration from personal inscriptions to write Armistice
June 2018
Audio is publishing’s new star as sales soar across genres
Top thriller writer opts to publish solely in spoken-word format as demand rises
September 2017
Books blog
Revenge of Gatsby, Mrs De Winter... the never-ending love for literary sequels
Little Women, Les Misérables and now Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde have all spawned followups by different authors. But are they ever any good?
June 2017
A life in ...
Hollie McNish: the politics and poetry of boyfriends, babies and breastfeeding
The Ted Hughes prize winner explains why she does not wish to be squeezed into a ‘performance poet’ box and why you can love hip-hop and Paradise Lost
November 2016
Beyond Bob Dylan: authors, poets and musicians pick their favourite songwriter
Dylan’s Nobel prize win sparked a debate about lyrics as literature. Here, Andrew Motion, Carol Ann Duffy, Johnny Marr, Naomi Alderman and others nominate songwriters whose verse has the power of poetry
October 2016
Peace Talks by Andrew Motion review – from Craiglockhart to modern day warfare
The former poet laureate harnesses language’s transformative capacities to communicate the pain and grief of conflict
September 2016
Ian McEwan and others criticise UEA for 'thuggish' development plans
Ian McEwan and Andrew Motion among those opposed to University of East Anglia’s rugby and parking development on wildflower meadows
July 2016
Best holiday reads 2016
Geoffrey Hill: tributes to 'a poet of immense gifts'
June 2016
Andrew Motion: Brexiteers driven by the basest of motives
Letters: Imperfect as it may be, the EU is an extraordinarily noble idea
March 2016
Poetry Society top prize explores familial discord
Eric Berlin wins prestigious award with poem Night Errand, while David Morley takes Ted Hughes prize
January 2016
Joanna Trollope: 'UK cannot afford to close one single public library'
Ahead of National Libraries Day on 6 February, authors such as Neil Gaiman, Ali Smith and Andrew Motion join campaign to stem closures
April 2015
Keep it in the ground
Andrew Motion and Wellcome book prize authors call on charity to divest
Leading health charity should pull money out of fossil fuels, say authors who have received and judged the prestigious Wellcome book prize
