Penguin Modern Poets 1

Encounters with the work of three of the most exciting poets writing now - every three monthsInspired by Penguin's enormously successful '60s series of the same name, the Penguin Modern Poets are succinct, collectible, lovingly-assembled guides to the extraordinary richness and diversity of contemporary poetry, from the UK, America and beyond. Every volume brings together representative selections from the work of three poets now writing, allowing the seasoned poetry fan and the curious reader alike to have their first encounters with some of our most exciting new voices.Volume 1, IF I'M SCARED WE CAN'T WIN, presents the first ever selection from the whole body of Anne Carson's internationally-loved work alongside two British poets who have taken her influence in new directions- the prize-winning Emily Berry, and Sophie Collins, introduced here for the first time. All three push boundaries, while remaining totally accessible and compelling.

“This collection hits the ground running , both in terms of the work chosen and the way the first poem starts ... There is deep, anxious wit in Emily Berry's work ... It illustrates what poetry does best: make us look at the world anew, and not necessarily with ease ... If you don't know Anne Carson's work, you're in for a treat ... her poems are crammed with classical allusions that work even if you don't know what she's referring to ... Carson has an intellect that is both high-powered and unstoppably playful: her jokes are more than just gags, but - and this is the great bit - they're still funny ... Sophie Collins, at the beginning of her career, has enormous promise ... Her poem 'An Unusual Day' is not only extremely funny , it also gives us some clues as to the sternness of her gaze ... No one else could put the words down on the page in quite this way”

Two small, sorbet-coloured paperbacks were the most exciting thing in poetry this year. Reviving the 1960s Penguin Modern Poets series with panache, they united new and established voices from Britain and North America in electric pocketfuls -- Jeremy Noel-Tod Sunday Times (Poetry Book of the Year)
This year, I rediscovered poetry. Yes, I know. It all went wrong with the first new Penguin Modern Poets . . . soon, it was Emily Berry for breakfast and Anne Carson on the bus -- Charlotte Mendelson Guardian (Books of the Year)
This collection hits the ground running, both in terms of the work chosen and the way the first poem starts ... There is deep, anxious wit in Emily Berry's work ... It illustrates what poetry does best: make us look at the world anew, and not necessarily with ease ... If you don't know Anne Carson's work, you're in for a treat ... her poems are crammed with classical allusions that work even if you don't know what she's referring to ... Carson has an intellect that is both high-powered and unstoppably playful: her jokes are more than just gags, but - and this is the great bit - they're still funny ... Sophie Collins, at the beginning of her career, has enormous promise ... Her poem 'An Unusual Day' is not only extremely funny, it also gives us some clues as to the sternness of her gaze ... No one else could put the words down on the page in quite this way -- Nick Lezard The Guardian
A tremendous collection. Possibly the only book of poetry I've ever read through from start to finish -- John Self

Emily Berry (Author)Emily Berry's debut poetry collection, Dear Boy, was published in 2013, winning the Forward Prize for Best First Collection and the Hawthornden Prize. She is the editor of Best British Poetry 2015 and was a contributor to The Breakfast Bible, a compendium of breakfasts. Her second collection, Stranger, Baby, is forthcoming from Faber in 2017. She lives in London, where she was born.Anne Carson (Author)Anne Carson was born in Canada and teaches ancient Greek for a living.Sophie Collins (Author)Sophie Collins grew up in Bergen, North Holland, and now lives in Edinburgh. She is co-editor of tender, an online journal promoting work by female-identified writers and artists. Her poems have appeared in magazines, anthologies, newspapers and art books. She received an Eric Gregory Award in 2014. Her first collection will be published by Penguin in 2017.

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