‘His greatness was matched by his kindness’: remembering John Burnside
May 2024
John Burnside, author of Black Cat Bone, dies aged 69
TheScottish writer, whose career spanned more than 35 years, was one of only four people to have won both of the UK’s most prestigious poetry prizes for the same book
February 2024
The books of my life
John Burnside: ‘My stoner friends were into The Hobbit, but Gormenghast was darker’
The Scottish author on returning to Rimbaud, his childhood love of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and the comforts of 1066 and All That
November 2023
John Burnside wins the 2023 David Cohen prize for amazing body of work
‘He casts a spell with language of great beauty, power, lyricism and truthfulness’ said judging chair Hermione Lee of the poet and novelist
August 2021
The best recent poetry – review roundup
Learning to Sleep by John Burnside; A Year in the New Life by Jack Underwood; Lyonesse by Penelope Shuttle; The Wild Fox of Yemen by Threa Almontaser; and Ballad of a Happy Immigrant by Leo Boix
March 2017
Book of the day
Still Life With Feeding Snake by John Burnside review – master of the parallel universe
Levity and gravity make perfect bedfellows in the Scottish poet’s 15th collection
February 2017
Ashland & Vine by John Burnside – review
My writing day
John Burnside: ‘Writing is what I steal from the usual flow of things’
January 2017
Book of the day
Ashland & Vine by John Burnside review – the redemptive power of listening
Welcome to Lagos by Chibundu Onuzo review – high hopes, big city
September 2015
Man Booker 2015: shortlisted novels full of 'terrible stuff', admits judge
Prof Michael Wood says diverse tales by four men and two women explore grim themes including self-harm, child abuse and murder
January 2015
David Harsent wins TS Eliot prize for poetry for Fire Songs
Creative writing professor takes home £20,000 prize for his 11th collection of work after four previous appearances on shortlist
July 2014
Scottish writers on the referendum – independence day?
A book for the beach
A book for the beach: I Put a Spell on You by John Burnside
June 2014
Jeremy Paxman says poets must start engaging with ordinary people
Outgoing Newsnight presenter, judging Forward prize for poetry, says poetry has 'rather connived at its own irrelevance'
May 2014
I Put a Spell on You review – John Burnside's path less travelled
I Put a Spell on You by John Burnside – review
February 2014
All One Breath by John Burnside – review
Earthed and ethereal, the latest collection of poems from the author of Black Cat Bone is a marvel, writes Kate Kellaway
