PAUL DONOVAN is chilled by the contemporary resonance of Harper Lee’s coming of age tale amidst racism and white supremacy in this excellent production
Latest editorial
Contrasting collections of northern poets at the height of their considerable powers
21st Century Poetry with Andy Croft
GEOFF BOTTOMS recommends the unashamedly light-hearted escapism on offer in this stage version of the 1963 film
Full of mysterious religious references and radical sound design, the Scottish duo’s new offering is candidate for album of the year, suggests SIMON DUFF
MARY CONWAY revels in a powerful reminder that human lives are not defined by physical perfection
PAUL DONOVAN recommends the fine performances in this account of the pre-war meeting between the US president and the British king
TECLYN AROD relishes an intimate celebration of jazz improvisation that mixes local and national musicians
IT’S hard not to like Simon Armitage Despite all the prizes, professorships and profiles in the broadsheets, his work is genuinely popular, likeable and readable, entertaining without trying to be funny and serious without being “difficult.”
Unusually for the contemporary poetry scene, the critical praise and commercial success he enjoys is actually merited.
The publication of Paper Aeroplane: Selected Poems 1989-2014 (Faber, £14.99) confirms his reputation as the most significant British poet of his generation. The first half of the book is pretty well the same as Faber’s 2001 Selected Poems — the main difference is that the new version includes only six poems from CloudCuckooland instead of 30.
Similar stories
Two inspring books — that’s your New Year’s musing from me on January 2 2026
ANDY CROFT welcomes the publication of an anthology of recent poems published by the Morning Star, and hopes it becomes an annual event
Including races at Haydock and Ascot
Including races at Sandown, Haydock, Carlisle, Beverley and Leicester