Books & Reviews

Most of Gillian Clarke’s books can be bought on-line from Hive here…

Reviews and Book Descriptions

The Sundial

‘remains at a proper emotional distance from her Welsh scenes, allowing them to speak for themselves…beautifully achieves an Edward Thomas-like perspective’. The Irish Times

The King of Britain´s Daughter.

‘This volume overflows with simple pleasures. It deserves to be read and re-read for the poet´s brilliant word-craft’. Poetry Wales

Collected Poems.

‘A text that has the metaphoric and metamorphic power to astonish us into viewing life differently….from the most intensely sensuous of writers.’ Book News

‘How hard it is to write such poems, how easy to enjoy them.’ Poetry Review

‘An impressively achieved and exceptionally rewarding poet.’ Times Literary Supplement

Five Fields.

‘Cluttered with kennings and strung through with slate-sharp stress patterns, Clarke’s verse resembles Heaney’s in the way it mines a still-rich seam of Anglo-Saxon vernacular.’ The extended poem, ‘City’, ‘is a superb portrait of that Saturday morning when the IRA struck.’ City Life

Nine Green Gardens.

Commissioned by Aberglasne, the ‘garden lost in time’ near Carmarthen. Said to be the only remaining medieval garden in Britain, now restored, it was described by a 15th century Welsh poet as having ‘nine green gardens’. Nine sonnets, one for each garden, and some poetry paths to link them. A poem and colour photographs on every page. For garden lovers as well as poetry lovers.

‘elegantly crafted meditations, ideal for reading on a shady bench in a walled garden in summer.’ Western Mail

Owain Glyn Dwr. National Library of Wales, 2000. Illustrated. Owain Glyn Dwr, voted by Sunday Times readers as one of their favourite ten heroes of the last millennium, died 600 years ago. In this specially commissioned book, Margaret Jones’ beautiful illustrations accompany 14 new poems, as well as new poems in Welsh by Iwan Llwyd. For children and adults.

The Animal Wall and other poems

‘It’s New year’s Eve and a new millennium. Over the dark city snow is falling, turning familiar landmarks into enchanted places. Under the spell of a new century, one by one, stone hearts begin to beat. In the city tonight, even a homeless boy finds magic.’

‘tender evocations of birds and animals…unforgettable characters…dramatic narrative poems…Many of the qualities Clarke is renowned for in her adult work are evident here – an acute ear, a descriptive eye…a lyric voice.’ Times Educational Supplement

One Moonlit Night. Traditional stories translated from Welsh. Hardback. Illustrated. Gomer Press. Sad, gruesome, beautiful, strange and funny stories all set in a real landscape in places you can find on a map. Breathtaking colour illustrations by Jac Jones.

I Can Move the Sea. A hundred poems by children, chosen by Gillian Clarke, mainly from her school workshops. Gomer Press.

‘I recommend this collection unreservedly to every school library with pupils under 15’. School Librarian

The Whispering Room. Haunted poems chosen by Gillian Clarke. Hardback. Illustrated. Kingfisher Books.

‘Simply the best poetry anthology for children…..a page-turning delight….all the poems embody the real spirit of poetry.’ Literacy and Learning