The companion anthology to "Staying Alive" and "Being Alive". "Being Human" is the third book in the "Staying Alive" poetry trilogy. "Staying Alive" and its sequel "Being Alive" have introduced many thousands of new readers to contemporary poetry. "Being Human" is a companion volume to those two books - a world poetry anthology offering an even broader, international selection of "real poems for unreal times". The range of poetry here complements that of the first two anthologies: hundreds of thoughtful and passionate poems about living in the modern world; poems that touch the heart, stir the mind and fire the spirit; poems about being human, about love and loss, fear and longing, hurt and wonder. There are more great poems from the 20th century as well as many recent poems of rare imaginative power from the first decade of the 21st century. But this book is also rare in reflecting the concerns of readers from all walks of life. Such has been the appeal of "Staying Alive" and "Being Alive" that many people have written not only to express their appreciation of these books, but also to share poems which have been important in their own lives. "Being Human" draws on this highly unusual publisher's mailbag, including many talismanic personal survival poems suggested by our readers.
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'Astley is wonderful at selecting poems with the kind of talismanic lines that really speak to people... Not only are the poems clustered by broad theme, with a lively introduction to each section by Astley, but within those groupings they speak to each other, in substance or across time…This collection certainly continues the excellent work of its predecessors, bringing new work and poets to audiences, and drawing new readers to poetry, and at a mere £12 for 500 poems, no one will be deterred from taking a risk. Being Human is stimulating, inspiring, intelligent, witty and life-affirming, the perfect companion on a journey, literal and otherwise.' --Peggy Hughes, Scotland on Sunday
'This is not one of those controversial "best of" anthologies but one that expands our definition of greatness to encompass a multiplicity of styles, voices and cultures. Astley aims to introduce poetry to new readers and new poets to seasoned readers. It is difficult to imagine all but the most hardened philistines not being touched and inspired by this wonderful assembly of poems.' --Bernardine Evaristo, The Times
'A book that makes the heart sing, which shows that the best of today's poetry…is a joy to behold, "charged", as Ezra Pound said, "with meaning to the utmost degree". Being Human, which runs to more than 500 pages, offers a glut of poetry from across the globe and, in so doing, renders redundant the "difficult" tag which so dogs the art. Above all it is a celebration of our capacity to embrace whatever's thrown at us… But subjects do not make poems, poets do. Astley's taste is catholic and inclusive and drawn to those who write with lyrical clarity and a keen eye… Being Human is not easy to summarise. It is a poetic Babel, a library in one volume.' --Alan Taylor, The Herald (Scotland)
'This is not one of those controversial "best of" anthologies but one that expands our definition of greatness to encompass a multiplicity of styles, voices and cultures. Astley aims to introduce poetry to new readers and new poets to seasoned readers. It is difficult to imagine all but the most hardened philistines not being touched and inspired by this wonderful assembly of poems.' --Bernardine Evaristo, The Times
'A book that makes the heart sing, which shows that the best of today's poetry…is a joy to behold, "charged", as Ezra Pound said, "with meaning to the utmost degree". Being Human, which runs to more than 500 pages, offers a glut of poetry from across the globe and, in so doing, renders redundant the "difficult" tag which so dogs the art. Above all it is a celebration of our capacity to embrace whatever's thrown at us… But subjects do not make poems, poets do. Astley's taste is catholic and inclusive and drawn to those who write with lyrical clarity and a keen eye… Being Human is not easy to summarise. It is a poetic Babel, a library in one volume.' --Alan Taylor, The Herald (Scotland)
About the Author
Neil Astley is editor of Bloodaxe Books, which he founded in 1978. He has edited nearly a thousand poetry books and published several bestselling anthologies, including Staying Alive (2002), Being Alive (2004), Earth Shattering: ecopoems (2007) and Being Human (2011) and two collaborations with Pamela Robertson-Pearce, Soul Food: nourishing poems for starved minds (2007) and the world's first DVD poetry anthology, In Person: 30 Poets (2008), which combines six hours of filmed readings with all the texts read by the poets (plus a history of Bloodaxe). He was given a D.Litt by Newcastle University for his pioneering work with Bloodaxe, and won an Eric Gregory Award for his own poetry. He has published two poetry collections, Darwin Survivor and Biting My Tongue, and two novels, The End of My Tether (shortlisted for the Whitbread First Novel Award), and The Sheep Who Changed the World. He lives in the Tarset Valley in Northumberland.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
If you care for up-to-date poetry this is probably the best anthology you can currently buy. Get it. Then consider buying its two predecessors, Staying Alive and Being Alive. I can't say they will change your life but they will enhance it enormously.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
The earlier reiews of this stunning piece of work say almost everything that I wanted to say about this outstanding anthology, the third in the series with "Being Alive" and "Staying Alive". The earlier works created a wealth of new interest in (what we call) contemporary poetry and this work is sure to do the same; maybe bringing in fresh groups of readers as well. What amazes me most is the reach of Neil Astley - to have produced one anthology to the standard of "Being Alive" was remarkable - "Staying Alive" was equally as remarkable and what other superlative can we add for "Being Human". Neil Astley must be congratulated for introducing poets to us and bringing their outstanding poetry to our attention. If you are looking for Christmas presents for that "difficult to buy for" person, look no further.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
By sue hewitt
Format:Paperback
Another winner from Bloodaxe Books! This anthology is music for the spirit as one poem segues into another. The arrangement of poems makes it easy to select one suitable to the mood of the reader. It is eclectic, and accessible.
The best place to keep this hefty book is on the coffee table/kitchen worktop/bathroom stool/bedside locker - and the office desk. It is applicable to contemporary life and needs to be to hand. Much too useful to be confined to the bookshelf.
If you like this anthology you will also love Staying Alive and Being Alive.
The best place to keep this hefty book is on the coffee table/kitchen worktop/bathroom stool/bedside locker - and the office desk. It is applicable to contemporary life and needs to be to hand. Much too useful to be confined to the bookshelf.
If you like this anthology you will also love Staying Alive and Being Alive.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent new and old
I loved this book as it introduced me to many new poets and some old favourites. The selection is wide ranging. It is a great poetry book to dip into when I have a spare moment. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Richard M. Seel
5.0 out of 5 stars
Moving
Some of the most moving and simply brilliant poetry of the last decades. Being human is after all what most poetry is about. Read more
Published 5 months ago by B J Stay
5.0 out of 5 stars
I love them all
I love all the anthologies that Bloodaxe Books have published in this series - Being Alive, Staying Alive and this one Being Human. Read more
Published 10 months ago by Trio Ross
4.0 out of 5 stars
The least accessible of the 3.
I was thrilled to read the first two anthologies in this series and didn't hesitate to buy this one. Read more
Published 23 months ago by Yvonne Moore
5.0 out of 5 stars
Best of the three!!
Thgre have been three now of these anthologies of modern poetry selected and editied by Astley. All are excellent - but this latest one is perhaps the best of the three. Read more
Published on 24 April 2011 by Jack Smith
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