Under Cover: A Poet s Life in Publishing

As an independent publisher, Jeremy Robson always punched above his weight with a roster of authors that have been the envy of many large publishers. As a poet, he has been at the centre of the poetry scene since the 1960s, with a number of highly praised volumes to his credit and the friendship of many leading poets and musicians.

In this engrossing memoir, Robson looks back at both his publishing career and life as a poet. Stories abound; whether it be driving Muhammad Ali around Britain, coping with Michael Winner or working in the desert with David Ben-Gurion. Time spent joyously laughing with Maureen Lipman and Alan Coren while undertaking an exciting poetry reading tour with Ted Hughes, and packing the Royal Festival Hall for a historic poetry and jazz concert. Jeremy recounts treasured and life-long friendships with the poets and writers; Dannie Abse, Alan Sillitoe, Vernon Scannell, Laurie Lee, Yevgeny Yevtushenko, Elie Wiesel and Frederic Raphael.

Well known and celebrated as both publisher and poet, Jeremy Robson has produced a delicious memoir that will delight the reader.

Jeremy Robson cut his teeth as an editor with Aldus Books, working with such figures as Marc Chagall, and Carl Jung. He then launched his own company, Robson Books. Described by The Times as `a champion of poetry', and a key figure in the poetry reading scene of the 1960s and 1970s, Jeremy Robson has edited various landmark anthologies. He was, for many years the Tribune poetry critic. He has also published several books of his own poetry, most recently Subject Matters (2017) and Blues in the Park (2011), both published by Smokestack.