Off The Shelf
A Celebration of Bookshops in Verse
(Author) Carol Ann Duffy DBEPoet Laureate Carol Ann Duffy has commissioned a selection of the UK's most loved and lauded poets to each write a poem in celebration of books and bookshops - the worlds they hold, the freedoms they promise, and the memories they evoke. From a basement of forgotten books to the shelves of a cramped Welsh arcade, from the poetry corner ofb the local bokstore to the last bookshop standing in a post-apocalyptic world, these are poems that pay tribute to the places and volumes that house the stories we treasure."--Back cover.
Carol Ann Duffy DBE
Carol Ann Duffy DBE is a renowned Scottish poet and playwright, known for her evocative and lyrical writing style. She served as the Poet Laureate of the United Kingdom from 2009 to 2019, becoming the first woman, first Scot, and first openly LGBT person to hold the position. Duffy's works often explore themes of love, gender, and identity, and she is praised for her ability to capture complex emotions in simple, accessible language.
Some of Duffy's most notable works include "The World's Wife," a collection of poems that give voice to the female partners of famous historical and mythological figures, and "Rapture," a collection of love poems that won the T.S. Eliot Prize in 2005. Duffy's impact on contemporary poetry is significant, as she has inspired a new generation of poets to explore personal and political themes in their work.
One of Duffy's most famous works is "The Bees," a collection that was awarded the Costa Book Award in 2011. In this collection, Duffy reflects on the beauty of nature and the fragility of the human experience, showcasing her talent for blending the personal and the universal in her poetry. Duffy's contributions to literature have earned her numerous awards and accolades, cementing her reputation as one of the most important voices in contemporary poetry.