Living in Language

21 Essays from Leading Poets Around the World on their Craft

LIVING IN LANGUAGE brings together reflections on the craft and purpose of poetry, by 21 leading poets from around the world. The lyric essays, fragments, letters and new poems in this groundbreaking anthology shed light on topics as diverse and vital as writing the body, writing in exile, writing as witness, writing as a shamanic act, grappling with traditional forms, discovering your own voice, and even translation and self-translation. This is an essential resource for anyone looking to broaden their horizons and engage with the cutting edge of poetry as it is practised, around the world, in the 21st century.

Featured Authors: Al-Saddiq Al-Raddi, Diana Anphimiadi, Diana Bellessi, Carla Diacov, Azita Ghahreman, Legna Rodriguez Iglesias, Karin Karakasli, Karan Kurose, Lee Hyemi, Bejan Matur, Zar Mose, Gabriel Okoundji, Mohan Rana, Habib Tengour, Victor Teran, Xasan Daahir Ismaaciil 'Weedhsame', Laura Wittner, Yang Lian, Yu Yoyo, Asha Lul Mohamud Yusuf, and Erica Zingano.

Featured Translators: Alireza Abiz, Atef Alshaer, Khairani Barokka, Leo Boix, Natalia Bukia-Peters, Alan Cummings, Dave Daysom, Sarabjeet Garcha, Delaina Haslam, Brian Holton, Will Howard, Annie McDermott, Martin Orwin, Shook, Soje, Ayca Turkoglu, Serafina Vick, and Francisco Vilhena.

Literary Nonfiction. Poetry. Literary Criticism.

Erica Hesketh is the Director of the Poetry Translation Centre. She previously worked at English PEN, where she managed the Writers in Translation programme, as an editor at Bloomsbury Publishing, a literary events programmer at Southbank Centre, and the book campaigns director at The Pigeonhole. She is also a musician and poet, with poems in Ink, Sweat & Tears, harana poetry and The North among others. She is a trustee of Adverse Camber Productions, and serves on the editorial board of the translation journal In Other Words.