Poetry Book Society

As we get older and have more time to think, we often dwell on the distant past, half-remembering school days and other moments long gone. Books such as I Wandered Lonely As a Cloud... and Other Poems You Half-Remember From School will help to bring the memories flooding back and provide endless poetic enjoyment.


An Illustrated Anthology for Grandparents: A Gift of Poetry and Fine Paintings, ed. Victoria Lyle, Star Fire, (ISBN 9781847863072), Hardback, £8.99

A sumptuously illustrated anthology of some of our most treasured poems, from Tennyson's 'The Grandmother' to 'In Grandmother's Kitchen' by Ella Wheeler Wilcox.


I Wandered Lonely As a Cloud... and Other Poems You Half-Remember From School, ed. Ana Sampson, Michael O'Mara Books, (ISBN 9781843173946), Hardback, £9.99

If it all seems so long ago and only the odd line can be recalled, but not the title or the poet, this is the book that will help, a book to bring to mind the poems that were taught at school, but are now long forgotten. From Coleridge's 'The Rime of the Ancient Mariner' to Stevie Smith's 'Waving Not Drowning' - they are all here.


The Nation's Favourite: Poems, ed. Griff Rhys Jones, BBC Books, (ISBN 9780563387824), Paperback, £7.99

The BBC embarked upon a poll to discover the nation's favourite poem which turned out to be Rudyard Kipling's If. However, they also discovered the nation's favourite 100 poems. Popular classics like Tennyson's 'The Lady of Shallott' share the list with contemporary works like Allan Ahlberg's 'Please Mrs. Butler' and Jenny Joseph's 'Warning'.


Victorian Women Poets: An Annotated Anthology, ed. Virginia Blain, Longman, (ISBN 9781408204986), Paperback, £16.99

A key selection of poems by 13 Victorian women poets from Christina Rossetti andFelicia Hemans to the witty, iconoclastic May Kendall.


More in the series:

Poetry Books for... All Occasions

Poetry Books for... Weddings

Poetry Books for... Funerals

Poetry Books for... Valentine's Day

Poetry Books for... Christmas

Poetry Books for... Lovers

Poetry Books for... Faithful Friends

Poetry Books for... Marvellous Mums

Poetry Books for... Doting Dads

Poetry Books for... Awesome Aunts

Poetry Books for... Favourite Uncles

Poetry Books for... Grumpy Grandads

Poetry Books for... Boys

Poetry Books for... Girls

Poetry Books for... Tiny Terrors