A hopeful outlook

You wouldn’t guess from the cover design—three songbirds silhouetted over swatches of picturesque Englishness—but Catherine Clarke’s A History of England in 25 Poems hits one of its sweet spots with a

Sue Hannah finds poetry in motion in every season “ In an increasingly overstimulated and digital world of light, noise and 24/7 living, people always seem to be seeking a more tranquil state. Having

Granny,” says Molly when she comes round from school as she always does. “May I tell you something?” “Of course, love.” Molly and I have always been close. I thank my lucky stars that my daughter had

Elspeth wanted to get back to her old self – but was she brave enough?

Catherine Clarke A History of England in 25 Poems400pp. Allen Lane. £25. Mark Forsyth Rhyme and ReasonA short history of poetry and people (forpeople who don’t usually read poetry)368pp. Allen & Unwin

NOTHING said “home” like the kitchen of Nant-y-Bri Farm at breakfast time. Delicious frying pan smells hung heavy in the air and the scrape of cutlery on willow pattern plates indicated the family had