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Poetry Unbound

By: Pádraig Ó Tuama
Narrated by: Pádraig Ó Tuama
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Summary

An immersive collection of poetry to open your world, curated by the host of Poetry Unbound

This inspiring collection, edited by Pádraig Ó Tuama, presents fifty poems about what it means to be alive in the world today. Each poem is paired with Pádraig's illuminating commentary that offers personal anecdotes and generous insights into the content of the poem. .

Engaging, accessible and inviting, Poetry Unbound is the perfect companion for everyone who loves poetry and for anyone who wants to go deeper into poetry but doesn't necessarily know how to do so.

Poetry Unbound contains expanded reflections on poems as heard on the podcast, as well as exclusive new selections. Contributors include Hanif Abdurraqib, Patience Agbabi, Raymond Antrobus, Margaret Atwood, Ada Limón, Kei Miller, Roger Robinson, Lemn Sissay, Layli Long Soldier and more.

©2022 Pádraig Ó Tuama (P)2022 Canongate Books
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Critic reviews

Mesmerising, magical, deeply moving. I loved and adored this book! If you are looking for a read that will warm your heart, inspire your creative mind and renew your faith in the resilience of the human race, look no further (ELIF SHAFAK)
A poem to Pádraig is like a child to Mary Poppins. It sits, alert, in wonder that he should know it so well. I would go out at night to hear Pádraig talk of the poems. The next best thing, maybe even better, is Poetry Unbound . . . There should be a copy of Poetry Unbound in every bar, every café, every train station, every bus station, every airport, every workplace, every school, every university, everywhere! (LEMN SISSAY)
A wonderful anthology of poetry filled with fascinating and thought-provoking commentary from one of the best voices in contemporary poetry today (WILLIAM SIEGHART)

What listeners say about Poetry Unbound

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Poetry Expounded

As a regular listener to the Poetry Unbound podcast I knew that this book would appeal. I never quite felt like I underestood poetry but I love the author's explanations and how he relates each to his own life. The only thing missing from this book is the repetition of each poem at the end of the chapter as well as the beginning which I love in the podcast. Thank you for making poetry accessible to me.

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Outstanding and heart open collection

What a privilege to have stumbled upon this outstanding and heart open body of work! I related deeply to some of the poems and learnt a lot from others. In all, I loved everything about this collection, especially the narration. Highly recommended.

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50 ways

Pádraig Ó Tuama gently, as always, gives us 50 poems and stories and reflections and provocations to open our world( his words) and for me I was given that and a life laid bare, a life understood, a life healed a resounding resonance from others like and unlike me and all me… and all you.

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Beautiful

Truly amazing from start to finish I was enchanted the whole way through excellent book.

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Woke and therefore dull

I was enjoying the book until the author started suggesting that whites let brown people burn to death in Grenfell - because they are racist. Follow-up with some self hate at being white. Of course identity is neatly tied up with colonialism and more tenuous links. This author is more concerned about signaling his virtue than just helping others dive into the poetry.

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