Poetry Book Society

Posted: 30 March 2011

The Poetry Book Society was set up by the Arts Council in 1953 at the suggestion of Sir Stephen Spender, and T S Eliot and Sir Basil Blackwell were original directors of the book club for poetry. Philip Larkin was Chair of the PBS in the early 1980s.

The PBS Selectors choose a poetry collection every quarter which is sent to its members, with other recommendations. Last year it launched two new websites www.poetrybooks.co.uk for the PBS itself and www.poetrybookshoponline.com to sell poetry books and CD. It also runs the T S Eliot Prize, the most distinguished annual prize for poetry. The Readings by shortlisted poets, including Seamus Heaney, attracted the largest ever audience for poetry at the Royal Festival Hall in January of this year.

Carol Ann Duffy, Poet Laureate, said "This news goes beyond shocking and touches the realms of the disgusting. The PBS was established by T S Eliot in 1953 and is one of poetry's most sacred churches with an influence and reach far beyond its membership. This fatal cut is a national shame and a scandal and I urge everyone who cares about poetry to join the PBS as a matter of urgency."

Chris Holifield, Director of the PBS, commented "We are stunned by the Arts Council decision which will impact on thousands of poetry lovers, poets and poetry publishers. We will try to find a way for the PBS to survive but its future must now be in doubt, and the poetry world and especially poetry readers will be the losers. It is ironic that an organisation set up by the Arts Council and strongly supported by our greatest poets has its future undermined by the same organisation."

For further information please contact: Chris Holifield, Director - tel 020 7831 7468 email chris@poetrybooks.co.uk or Desmond Clarke, Vice-Chair - tel 01323 873448 email desmondclarke2@btinternet.com

Categories: Poetry News

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