Exploring the multifaceted nature of poetry, Simon Armitage presents a blend of personal insights and critical analysis, drawing from his experiences as Oxford's Professor of Poetry. He examines a diverse range of poets, including Emily Dickinson and Walt Whitman, with a playful yet thoughtful approach. Armitage tackles topics from Bob Dylan's Nobel Prize to the challenges of contemporary poetic life, culminating in his "Ninety-Five Theses" on poetry. This engaging work highlights the evolving definitions and significance of poetry in modern times.
Simon Armitage Books
Simon Armitage writes with a dry Yorkshire wit, combined with an accessible, realist style and critical seriousness. His poetry often explores themes rooted in the English landscape, characterized by a distinctive voice and approachability. Through his work, he delves into common human experiences with a keen eye for detail and linguistic dexterity. His influence is significant, with his poems frequently appearing in educational curricula.






The current UK Poet Laureate's popular series of lectures examining what poetry is and who it might be for.
Out of the Blue
- 64 pages
- 3 hours of reading
Divided in the three sections, this volume of poetry commemorates three significant anniversaries - 9/11 (2001), VE Day (1945) and the horrifying history of the Khmer Rouge in Cambodia. The poems were originally commissioned by the BBC and Channel 5.
Book of Matches
- 64 pages
- 3 hours of reading
Losing none of the exuberance which has become a hallmark of Simon Armitage's poetry, these poems are more personal. The book is divided into three sections - the Book of Matches which are sonnets, Becoming of Age and Reading the Bans, a series of poems about Armitage's marriage.
Jerusalem
- 75 pages
- 3 hours of reading
His son doesn't want to join the family business, and his wife is in love with the town's ex-policeman, but Radio Castle continues to broadcast despite everything life throws at John Edward.
Sir Gawain and the Green Knight
- 128 pages
- 5 hours of reading
Following in the tradition of Seamus Heaney's reworking of "Beowulf," Armitage, one of England's leading poets, has produced a virtuoso new translation of the 600-year-old Arthurian story with both clarity and verve.
SHORTLISTED FOR THE DEREK WALCOTT PRIZE FOR POETRYIt is the current Poet Laureate who has done the most to bring medieval poetry to contemporary audiences . The disputed issues still resonate - concerning identity, cultural habits, class distinctions and the right to be heard.
Homer's Odyssey
- 272 pages
- 10 hours of reading
20 years after the Trojan war, the Gods have decided it is time for Odysseus to return to Ithaca, before his wife Penelope is forced to marry again. Angry Poseidon is seeking revenge for the murder of his son, and Odysseus has many perilous storms and treacherous landfalls ahead of him if he is to be reunited with Penelope.
Sandettie light vessel automatic
- 216 pages
- 8 hours of reading
A collection of commissioned, collaborative and occasional poems, demonstrating the range of Armitage's writing outside of his mainstream volumes.
A new collection from the one of the greatest contemporary English poets, published by Propolis, one of the smallest contemporary English publishers...

