A History of England in 25 Poems
Portals into the past through poetry from the eighth century to today.
Discover the history of England told in a new way, through twenty-five remarkable poems written down between the eighth century and today, which connect us directly with the nation’s past, and the experiences, emotions and imaginations of those who lived it.
In this talk, Catherine Clarke will share stories and insights from her new book, A History of England in 25 Poems, from the lived experience of the Black Death, to the voice of an eighteenth-century housemaid, to a quiet moment of birdsong on the eve of the Great War – and more. She’ll also share a special look at some of the archival discoveries and treasures she found in her research.
Catherine Clarke is a Professor at the Institute of Historical Research, University of London, where she is also Director of the Victoria County History of England project. She is Visiting Professor in English at the University of Southampton. A History of England in 25 Poems has been a BBC Radio 4 Book of the Week, and a Book of the Year in the Times, Financial Times and History Extra.
‘This is a marvellous idea, quite brilliantly realised. Catherine Clarke takes 25 poems, from Caedmon’s Hymn and The Battle of Maldon to Edward Thomas’s Adlestrop and Geoffrey Hill’s September Song, and uses them as windows into the English past, from politics and plagues to nature and nostalgia. Her book is a winning blend of jolly ballads and melancholy reflections, alive to the ways in which the meanings of England and Englishness are never fixed, always changing’ Dominic Sandbrook ― The Times, Best Books of the Year 2025
‘A literary tour through English history... A charming mix of history, travel and literature, inspiring the reader to set forth to discover the English countryside – and to reread the poems aloud at the sites that inspired their creation’ Alice Loxton ― History Extra, Best History Books of 2025
‘Catherine Clarke traces centuries of English thought and poetry, from the time of Beowulf to the protests written in the wake of Brexit. She weaves together the personal and the public with stories of the Danelaw, French nobles, Yorkshire miners, and the heart-rending plight of the 16th-century Protestant martyr Anne Askew. An excellent, all-encompassing read’ The Idler
Date: Tuesday 12 May
Time: Doors from 18.30, talk begins 19.00
Where: Arundells, 59 The Close, Salisbury
Tickets: £15
Copies of the book will be available for purchase at this event.
All tickets are non refundable but you are very welcome to pass them on to friends or family if you are unable to attend.
Ticket options
Portals into the past through poetry from the eighth century to today.
Discover the history of England told in a new way, through twenty-five remarkable poems written down between the eighth century and today, which connect us directly with the nation’s past, and the experiences, emotions and imaginations of those who lived it.
In this talk, Catherine Clarke will share stories and insights from her new book, A History of England in 25 Poems, from the lived experience of the Black Death, to the voice of an eighteenth-century housemaid, to a quiet moment of birdsong on the eve of the Great War – and more. She’ll also share a special look at some of the archival discoveries and treasures she found in her research.
Catherine Clarke is a Professor at the Institute of Historical Research, University of London, where she is also Director of the Victoria County History of England project. She is Visiting Professor in English at the University of Southampton. A History of England in 25 Poems has been a BBC Radio 4 Book of the Week, and a Book of the Year in the Times, Financial Times and History Extra.
‘This is a marvellous idea, quite brilliantly realised. Catherine Clarke takes 25 poems, from Caedmon’s Hymn and The Battle of Maldon to Edward Thomas’s Adlestrop and Geoffrey Hill’s September Song, and uses them as windows into the English past, from politics and plagues to nature and nostalgia. Her book is a winning blend of jolly ballads and melancholy reflections, alive to the ways in which the meanings of England and Englishness are never fixed, always changing’ Dominic Sandbrook ― The Times, Best Books of the Year 2025
‘A literary tour through English history... A charming mix of history, travel and literature, inspiring the reader to set forth to discover the English countryside – and to reread the poems aloud at the sites that inspired their creation’ Alice Loxton ― History Extra, Best History Books of 2025
‘Catherine Clarke traces centuries of English thought and poetry, from the time of Beowulf to the protests written in the wake of Brexit. She weaves together the personal and the public with stories of the Danelaw, French nobles, Yorkshire miners, and the heart-rending plight of the 16th-century Protestant martyr Anne Askew. An excellent, all-encompassing read’ The Idler
Date: Tuesday 12 May
Time: Doors from 18.30, talk begins 19.00
Where: Arundells, 59 The Close, Salisbury
Tickets: £15
Copies of the book will be available for purchase at this event.
All tickets are non refundable but you are very welcome to pass them on to friends or family if you are unable to attend.
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