Poet Town is a new anthology of poems which brings together the best classic, modern and spoken poets linked to Hastings. The collection takes you on a spirited journey carefully stitched with laughter, pain, love, loss, human insight, great sadness and even greater optimism. It’s a collection to dip into, to inspire and to savour and if you weren’t in love with Hastings before, you soon will be.
“A love letter to Hastings: these poems hit you in the eye like an arrow. At turns funny, melancholy and celebratory – there’s all of life between these pages.”
Luke Wright
www.maxinesilver.co.uk
The idea for Poet Town came from Richard Newham-Sullivan, the editor of small independent press, Moth Light Press. Hastings has a rich poetry history and lively poetry scene with many poets, old and new, connected to the town. Richard wanted to bring these poets together and celebrate poetry spanning 200 years — not only poets from Hastings, but those linked to the town and surrounding areas. Hastings is a bohemian and slightly schizophrenic town, with a healthy, beating creative heart, and this anthology is a glimpse under the hood of a town that is often maligned, not without problems but simultaneously compelling and evocative.
Who’s in the anthology?
There are 70+ poets, past and present. Contemporary contributors include award-winning and much-loved names: Iain Sinclair, Salena Godden, A. K. Benedict, Penny Pepper, Brian Moses and Henry Normal, alongside new and contemporary voices. They sit shoulder-to-shoulder with classic poets such as Bessie Rayner Parkes, Edward Lear, Lord and Lady Byron, John Keats, Thomas Hood, Rudyard Kipling and Lewis Carroll. There’s a lively spoken-word strand too (Hastings has a strong performance scene) with poets like Tara Valentine, Katie Taylor, Lucas “The Peaceful Poet” and Grace Pilkington. A QR code lets readers hear performances — a lovely touch.
Photography & sense of place
Modern poets were invited to a portrait shoot with photographer Maxine Silver. Each poet chose a favourite Hastings location. A. K. Benedict picked the funicular railway, Jane Midwinter chose Fairlight/Country Park where she grew up. Maxine has captured the essence of each poet and place, and her portraits will be exhibited to run alongside the book at launch. It brings Hastings to life.
Community effort
Beyond the poems and pictures, Poet Town is a community project. Poets have pooled skills (PR, photography, events) to help get the book into the public eye and into local hearts. There are plans for library and bookshop readings, a deluxe photo edition with Maxine’s images and further spin-off events (including a children’s Poet Town competition, TBC). Most of all, Richard has brought poets together, not just the poetry; what was disparate now feels like a community.
Poet Town was published on 10 September, with a launch on 18 September at the Hastings Book Festival. It is available in Waterstones, on Amazon/Kindle, at Bookbuster in Hastings, and at the De La Warr Pavilion in Bexhill (with more bookshops to follow).
Meet the Poet Town poets:
Explore the area:
