Staying Alive: Real Poems for Unreal Times - Softcover

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1401359264 ISBN 13: 9781401359263

Publisher: Miramax, 2003

Synopsis

An anthology of five hundred contemporary poems explores themes of passion, spirituality, death, and friendship, in a collection that includes contributions by such writers as Mary Oliver, W. H. Auden, and Maya Angelou. Original. 25,000 first printing.

About this title

Review:

'Staying Alive'is a magnificent anthology. I can't think of any other anthology that has introduced me to so many vivid and memorable poems. -- Philip Pullman, Children's writer

A book for people who know they love poetry, and for people who think they don't. -- Helen Dunmore, novelist and poet

A wonderful book - a powerful weapon of happiness -- Sir Richard Eyre, TV and theatre director

An incredible anthology... for inspiration, solace and perspective .. but mostly just for pure pleasure. -- Shirley Manson, musician (Garbage)

Everyone who cares about poetry should own this book. -- Andrew Motion, Poet Laureate

These poems, just words, distil the human heart as nothing else. -- Jane Campion, film director

This unique collection of 20th century poetry from all over the world cannot fail to enrich your life. -- Denis Healey, politician

Truly startling and powerful poems -- Mia Farrow, actor

When you choose your book for Desert Island Discs this should be it. -- Helena Kennedy, QC, human rights lawyer

[Staying Alive] is a relvelation. Buy it. Leave it around the house. Give it to friends. It could keep them alive. -- Sunday Times, June 23 2002

About the Author:

Neil Astley is editor of Bloodaxe Books, which he founded in 1978. His books include two poetry collections and several anthologies, including 'Staying Alive: real poems from unreal times' (2002), 'Pleased to See Me: 69 very sexy poems' (2002), 'Do Not Go Gentle: poems for funerals' (2003), 'Being Alive: the sequel to Staying Alive' (2004), 'Passionfood: 100 Love Poems' (2005), 'Soul Food: nourishing poems for starved minds' [with Pamela Robertson-Pearce] (2007), 'Earth Shattering: ecopoems' (2007) and the DVD-book 'In Person: 30 Poets filmed by Pamela Robertson-Pearce' (2008). 'Being Human', the third anthology of the Staying Alive "trilogy", is due from Bloodaxe in 2011. He has published two novels, 'The End of My Tether' (Flambard, 2002; Scribner, 2003), which was shortlisted for the Whitbread First Novel Award, and 'The Sheep Who Changed the World' (Flambard, 2005). He received an Eric Gregory Award for his poetry and was given a D.Litt from Newcastle University for his work with Bloodaxe Books. He lives in Northumberland.

About this edition

• Publisher: Miramax
• Publication date: 2003
• ISBN 10: 1401359264
• ISBN 13: 9781401359263
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 496
• Editor: Astley Neil