Best-selling poetry anthologist Allie Esiri releases new book ahead of National Poetry Day

South Hampstead High School alumna and best-selling poetry anthologist Allie Esiri has just published her latest collection of poems, A Poet for Every Day of the Year, ahead of National Poetry Day (7 October), and in celebration of its publication, Allie’s great school friend from South Hampstead days, the actor Helena Bonham Carter, appeared on BBC Newsnight to read from it. You can listen to Helena Bonham Carter’s rendition here.

Speaking at the book launch, Allie said,

“Poetry at its best has always enabled us to see different worlds, or rather, our own world differently, without having to leave our home. It has articulated our muddled thoughts, given a voice to the voiceless and lent an ear to the otherwise unheard.”

Introducing readers to 366 of the world’s greatest poets, putting diverse and exciting new voices alongside some of the giants of poetry, with mini-biographies of each of them, A Poet for Every Day of the Year isnpires readers to discover poetry, and to make it part of their “every day”.

Award-winning and number one author across children’s poetry in 2021, Allie has lit an explosion of interest in poetry through her carefully curated anthologies and exciting live performances. Her books have sold over 250,000 copies in hardback, and her three poetry collections have featured in the top five poetry titles every year since 2016.