Inside the Aldeburgh poetry prize box November 5, 2010: The Aldeburgh First Collection prize provides time, money and a place to write for a poet who "pushes limits." Here's the shortlist from the Guardian: Christian Campbell Running the Dusk (Peepal Tree Press) Robert Dickinson Micrographia (Waterloo Press) Sheila Hillier A Quechua Confession Manual (Cinnamon Press) Katharine Towers The [...] by Harriet Staff

The best of the best November 4, 2010: Two recent "best of" lists give us hope that compiling the names of books and authors need not involve snarky criticism or sycophantic praise. Publishers Weekly named Kathleen Graber's second poetry collection, The Eternal City, one of the best books of 2010. As if it weren't enough that Graber name drops Pepperidge Farm Goldfish, here's why her [...] by Harriet Staff

Poets of promise recognized October 28, 2010: The recipients of the Whiting Award, writers who demonstrate "extraordinary talent and promise," were announced yesterday. The award is given to writers in the early stages of their careers and "designed to allow deepened focus and concentration" — all made possible by generous grants of $50,000 each, reports Jacket Copy. Among the 10 winners, [...] by Harriet Staff

T.S. Eliot’s prize posse October 22, 2010: What do you get when you put together an American veteran of the Iraq war, a recovering heroin addict, and a godfather of modern poetry (who also happens to be a poetry-prize magnet)? No, it's not a bad joke and they don't all walk into a bar together. You get the "unusually eclectic" shortlist for the T.S Eliot prize. More from the Guardian: [...] by Harriet Staff

Award-winning icicle October 14, 2010: Simon Armitage's poem about a vain quest for icicles earned him this year's Keats-Shelley poetry prize. The award is given to a poem that embodies "modern relevance and Romantic inspiration." This year's theme was "ice."  From the Guardian:  After receiving the £1,000 award at last night's British Academy cermony, Armitage shared his [...] by Harriet Staff

The 2010 Natinal Book Award Finalists October 13, 2010: . . . have just been announced: Poetry Kathleen Graber, The Eternal City Princeton University Press Terrance Hayes, Lighthead Viking Penguin James Richardson, By the Numbers Copper Canyon Press C.D. Wright, One with Others Copper Canyon Press Monica Youn, Ignatz Four Way Books Publisher's Weekly has more. by Harriet Staff

Regeneration poetry October 12, 2010: Most poetry prizes consist of money (tons!) or publication (prestigious!), but the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine’s Stem Cell Awareness Day poetry contest one-ups all those other ungernerous contests: the winners received a framed image (of their choice!), printed from Flickr. USA Today reports: Stem cells are a hot topic in [...] by Harriet Staff

Moving forward with Heaney October 7, 2010: Seamus Heaney is the winner of the Forward Prize for Best Collection for Human Chain, his 12th collection. This is the first time the Nobel prize-winner has received the Forward. From the Bookseller: The septuagarian was awarded the £10,000 award last night (6th October), the eve of National Poetry Day. Chair of judges Ruth Padel said: [...] by Harriet Staff

Spain’s national poetry prize October 7, 2010: Jose Maria Millares Sall is the latest recipient of Spain’s National Poetry Prize. His final collection of poetry, Cuadernos 2000-2009, earned the late poet the honor posthumously. From the Latin American Herald: Conferred by the Culture Ministry, the award is accompanied by a 20,000-euro ($29,200) cash prize and presented to the best work [...] by Harriet Staff

Adonis for the Nobel? October 6, 2010: Should the Syrian poet Adonis win the Nobel prize for literature? Gerard Russell makes the case for the poetry deity (aka Ali Ahmed Said) in the Guardian: The significance of honouring Arab poetry is obvious. It is the most eloquent and intellectually cogent response to those who belittle and malign Islamic culture; it shows that the Nobel prize [...] by Harriet Staff