A History of England in Twenty-Five Poems

A captivating and original approach to understanding England's history, as experienced through twenty-five of the most vital, magisterial poems in English literature.

This is the history of England told in a new way: glimpsed through twenty-five remarkable poems written down between the eighth century and today, which connect us directly with the nation’s past and the experiences, emotions, and imaginations of those who lived it.

These poems open windows onto wildly different worlds—from the public to the intimate, from the witty to the savage, from the playful to the wistful. They take us onto battlefields, inside royal courts, down coal mines, and below stairs in great houses. Their creators—witnesses to events from the Great Fire of London to the Miners’ Strike—range from the famous to the forgotten, yet each invites us into an immersive encounter with their own time.

A History of England in Twenty-Five Poems is a portal to the past; a constant companion, filled with vivid voices and surprising stories alongside familiar landmarks, and language that speaks in new ways on each reading. Catherine Clarke’s knowledge and passion take us inside the words and the moments they capture, with thoughtful insights, humor, and new perspectives on how the nation has dreamed itself into existence.