Poetry
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The Fall of the House of Usher and Other Writings: Edgar Allan Poe (Penguin Classics)
The Fall of the House of Usher and Other Writings is a collection that displays the full force of Edgar Allen Poe’s mastery of both Gothic horror and the short story form. This Penguin Classics edition is edited with an introduction and notes by David Galloway.
This selection of Poe’s critical writings, short fiction and poetry demonstrates his intense interest in aesthetic issues, and the astonishing power and imagination with which he probed the darkest corners of the human mind. ‘The Fall of the House of Usher’ is a slow-burning Gothic horror, describing the final hours of a family tormented by tragedy and the legacy of the past. In ‘The Tell-Tale Heart’, a murderer’s insane delusions threaten to betray him, while stories such as ‘The Pit and the Pendulum’, ‘The Raven’ and ‘The Cask of Amontillado’ explore extreme states of decadence, fear and hate.
In his introduction David Galloway re-examines the myths surrounding Poe’s life and reputation. This edition includes a new chronology and suggestions for further reading.
Although dissipated in his youth and plagued by mental instability towards the end of his life, Boston-born Edgar Allan Poe (1809-49) had a variety of occupations, including service in the US army and magazine editor, as well as his remarkable literary output.
If you enjoyed The Fall of the House of Usher, you might like Horace Walpole’s The Castle of Otranto, also available in Penguin Classics.
‘The most original genius that America has produced’
Alfred, Lord Tennyson‘Poe has entered our popular consciousness as no other American writer’
The New York Times Book ReviewRead more
£5.70 -
The Maidens: The Dark Academia Thriller from the author of TikTok sensation The Silent Patient
We all keep secrets. Even from ourselves.
‘A thrilling, heart-in-throat ride’ STEPHEN FRY
‘An absolute jaw-dropper’ LUCY FOLEY
‘Elegant, sinister, stylish’ CHRIS WHITAKER
‘Grips from start to finish’ HARRIET TYCE* * * * *
YOU ARE INVITED TO JOIN THE MAIDENS.
The Maidens are Cambridge University’s most exclusive society, whose members are selected by the charismatic professor of Greek tragedy, Edward Fosca.
A SECRETIVE SET OF THE BRIGHTEST, MOST CAPTIVATING STUDENTS.
When one of the Maidens is murdered, grieving young therapist Mariana Andros is drawn back to the idyllic campus where she was once herself a student.
THE GROUP FROM WHICH EACH VICTIM WILL BE CHOSEN.
Because beneath the university’s ancient traditions and beauty is a web of secrets, jealousy and lies. And when the killer threatens the person she loves most, Mariana will give anything to stop them – even her own life…
From the #1 global bestselling author of The Silent Patient comes a spellbinding tale of psychological suspense, weaving together Greek mythology, murder, and obsession…
* * * * *
‘There’s definitely a flavour of The Secret History to Alex Michaelides’s second novel … The Maidens is a compelling read, and delivers its Hellenic thrills in style.’ SUNDAY TELEGRAPH
‘A book which screams ‘make me into a TV series’ … his writing, especially his characterisation, possesses a unique sparkle and more promise than most other writers.’ DAILY MAIL
‘Nothing short of genius.’ WOMAN & HOME
‘How do you go about following one of the biggest thrillers of the past decade? You write something even better.’ CHRIS WHITAKER, bestselling author of WE BEGIN AT THE END
‘Grips from intriguing start to horrifying finish … A brilliant achievement.’
HARRIET TYCE‘A page-turner of the first order’
DAVID BALDACCI‘The greatest campus novel since The Secret History by Donna Tartt … with a climatic twist that you will NEVER see coming.’
TONY PARSONS‘A stunning psychological thriller … Michaelides is on a roll.’
PUBLISHERS WEEKLYRead more
£4.70£9.50 -
The Sonnets and a Lover’s Complaint: The Sonnets and a Lover’s Complaint (Clothbound Classics) (Penguin Clothbound Classics)
Part of Penguin’s beautiful hardback Clothbound Classics series, designed by the award-winning Coralie Bickford-Smith, these delectable and collectible editions are bound in high-quality colourful, tactile cloth with foil stamped into the design.
When this volume of Shakespeare’s poems first appeared in 1609, he had already written most of the great plays that made him famous. The 154 sonnets – all but two of which are addressed to a beautiful young man or a treacherous ‘dark lady’ – contain some of the most exquisite and haunting poetry ever written, and deal with eternal subjects such as love and infidelity, memory and mortality, and the destruction wreaked by Time. Also included is A Lover’s Complaint, originally published with the sonnets, in which a young woman is overheard lamenting her betrayal by a heartless seducer.
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£13.50£16.10 -
The Sweetest Little Blueberry: Poems about Pregnancy & Early Motherhood
“I look at you and wonder
how something so perfect,
so sweet,
so lovable and unique
and amazing came from me.You are brave and kind
and you speak your mind.
You are smart
and laugh loudly
and are you proudly.You have shown me
these qualities
I adore in you
have actually been hiding
inside of me
this entire time.Thank you
for helping me
love myself a little bit more.”Written with unflinching honesty about pregnancy and the first year of motherhood, The Sweetest Little Blueberry is a book for all mothers. Bluett pens everything we know and love – like feeling those baby kicks, perfect newborn toes, and the magic of motherhood – while also being vulnerable about the parts of motherhood that aren’t as magical – morning sickness (and afternoon and night sickness), fears of inadequacy, postpartum depression, and the struggles of figuring out this “new” you.
The journey of motherhood is the most beautiful yet also the most challenging, and The Sweetest Little Blueberrywill be a sweet, heartfelt reminder to mothers everywhere that you are far from alone and you are a total badass. You did the unthinkable, the most magical, the most amazing thing. And you deserve to be celebrated.
No matter where you are on your motherhood journey (pregnant, a new mother, or a mama of grown children), this book is a must-read during late-night pumping sessions or relaxing Sunday nights after the kids are finally asleep.
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£12.30 -
The Way Forward (The Inward Trilogy)
The #1 New York Times bestselling poet returns with his most ambitious collection yet. In this third and final installment of his poetic trilogy, Yung Pueblo expands upon favourite themes while guiding readers further, toward a life lived authentically, intuitively, and in harmony with others.In these rapidly changing times, it is more important than ever to know ourselves well and fully, even and especially in the face of turmoil. The Way Forward encourages readers to connect more deeply to their intuition, using it to remain focused and grounded amidst a world in constant flux.
In his latest collection of poetry and short prose, Yung Pueblo offers clear strategies for managing the unknown, inhabiting your personal power, and bringing your truest, healthiest self to relationships. Progressing naturally from both Inward and Clarity & Connection, The Way Forward is exactly that—an inspired beginning.
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£10.10£12.30The Way Forward (The Inward Trilogy)
£10.10£12.30 -
The Whitsun Weddings
Philip Larkin (1922-1985) remains England’s best-loved poet – a writer matchlessly capable of evoking his native land and of touching all readers from the most sophisticated intellectual to the proverbial common reader. The late John Betjeman observed that ‘this tenderly observant poet writes clearly, rhythmically, and thoughtfully about what all of us can understand’. Behind this modest description lies a poet who made greatness look, in Milton’s prescription, ‘simple, sensuous and passionate’.
This collection, first published in 1967, contains many of his best-loved poems, including The Whitsun Weddings, An Arundel Tomb, Days, Mr Bleaney and MCMXIV.
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£8.50£10.40The Whitsun Weddings
£8.50£10.40 -
This Wild and Precious Life: A Journal
A stunning journal featuring inspiring quotes from beloved poet Mary Oliver and delightful illustrations that illuminate her themes of wonder and nature.“What is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?”
Simple, direct, and profoundly feeling, Mary Oliver touched countless readers with her tender, accessible verse, expressing her love for the physical world and the powerful bonds between all living things. Her poems deftly weave close observations of nature with an evergreen state of wonder, and her essays about the craft of writing are remarkable for their intelligent yet comprehensive advice.
Oliver is a perennial touchstone for writers and nature lovers. Here for the first time is a journal that invites you to actively engage with her poetry. Flip from page to page to find a comforting, inspiring, or challenging quote from one of her poems, with an occasional poem reprinted in its entirety. The questions that weave through her poems form natural journaling prompts—from “The Gardener,”for example: Have I lived enough? Have I loved enough? Or from “Gratitude”: What did you notice? What was most wonderful? A list of citations for the quotes included in the back offers journalers the ability to delve deeper into Oliver’s work.
With delightful nature drawings appearing alongside Oliver’s celebrated verse, this journal readers them an opportunity, for the first time, to engage personally in a written conversation with the beloved poet, page by page.
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£16.10 -
Three Hundred Tang Poems (Everyman’s Library POCKET POETS)
These some three hundred poems from the Tang Dynasty (618-907)-an age in which poetry and the arts flourished-were gathered in the eighteenth century into what became one of the best-known books in the world, and which is still cherished in Chinese homes everywhere. Many of China’s most famous poets-Du Fu, Li Bai, Bai Juyi, and Wang Wei-are represented by timeless poems about love, war, the delights of drinking and dancing, and the beauties of nature. There are poems about travel, about grief, about the frustrations of bureaucracy, and about the pleasures and sadness of old age.
Nearly every Chinese household owns a copy of Tang Shi and poems from it are still included in textbooks and to be memorized by students.
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£9.90£11.40 -
Traditional Catholic Prayers: The 100 most inspiring and well-known prayers of the Catholic religion
Discover the serenity, strength and depth of the Catholic faith through the words of its most inspiring and beloved prayers. “Traditional Catholic Prayers: The 100 Most Inspiring Prayers of the Catholic Religion” is a valuable compilation of the most profound Catholic prayers, from the Church’s most respected saints. Each of these prayers offers a unique and powerful connection to the Catholic faith and allows you to explore a deeper relationship with God.Whether you are looking to enrich your daily spiritual practice, find comfort in difficult times, or simply understand the beauty of the Catholic tradition, this book is an invaluable resource. From prayers of renowned saints like Saint Francis of Assisi and Saint Thérèse of Lisieux, to prayers for specific situations like healing and blessing, this collection offers a variety of prayers for every moment of life.
Whether you are a long-time practicing Catholic or are simply interested in exploring the Catholic faith, this prayer book will enrich your spiritual journey. Take time to immerse yourself in prayer, find peace in solitude, and draw closer to God through the richness of Catholic tradition.
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£8.50 -
Travel and Transport: an anthology of poetry and short stories (Anthologies of poetry and short stories)
We rely so heavily on transport of all kinds in our everyday lives. We certainly couldn’t go on holiday without taking it in some form or other. Ingrained in our culture since the late eighteenth century we are now guilty of taking transport for granted. It has opened our eyes to new cultures and provided a free flow of goods and people all around the world. Certainly without transport we could not indulge in our collective passion for travel.
This collection of poetry and short stories is a wonderful celebration of all things travel and transport related.Read more
£9.50 -
Unrequited Feelings
how many times
can you miss a person
until it doesn’t hurt
anymore?Read more
£11.30Unrequited Feelings
£11.30 -
WHAT
‘Nothing short of dazzling’ – Alex Turner
Dr John Cooper Clarke’s dazzling, scabrous voice has reverberated through pop culture for decades, his influence on generations of performance poets and musicians plain for all to see. In WHAT, the original ‘People’s Poet’ comes storming out of the gate with an uproarious new collection, reminding us why he is one of Britain’s most beloved writers and performers. James Brown, John F. Kennedy, Jesus Christ: nobody is safe from the punk rocker’s acerbic pen – and that’s just the first poem.
Hot on the heels of The Luckiest Guy Alive and his sprawling, encyclopaediac memoir I Wanna Be Yours, the good Doctor returns with his most trenchant collection of poems yet. Vivid and alive, with a sensitivity only a writer with a life as varied and extraordinary as Cooper Clarke’s could summon, WHAT is an exceptional collection from one of our foremost satirists.
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£14.29£16.99WHAT
£14.29£16.99 -
Zero at the Bone: Fifty Entries Against Despair
Few contemporary writers ask the questions about faith, morality, and God that Christian Wiman does, and even fewer – perhaps none – do so with his urgency and eloquence. Wiman, the author of My Bright Abyss and an award-winning poet, lays the motion of his mind on the page in this genre-defying work, an indivisible blend of poetry, criticism, theology, and searing memoir. As Marilynne Robinson wrote, “[Wiman’s] poetry and his scholarship have a purifying urgency that is rare in this world . . . It enables him to say new things in timeless language, so that the reader’s surprise and assent are one and the same.” Zero at the Bone begins with Wiman’s preoccupation with despair, and through fifty brief pieces, framed by two more, he unravels its seductive appeal. The book is studded with the poetry and prose of writers who inhabit Wiman’s thoughts, and the voices of Wallace Stevens, Lucille Clifton, Emily Dickinson, and more join his own. At its heart and Wiman’s, however, are his family – his young children (who ask their own invaluable questions, like “Why are you a poet? I mean why?”), his wife, and those he grew up with in West Texas. Wiman is the rare thinker who takes up the mantle of our greatest mystics and does so with an honest, profound, and contemporary sensibility. Zero at the Bone is a revelation.Read more
£24.99
