Carol Ann Duffy, a Scottish-born poet, broke barriers as the first woman, the first openly LGBTQ person, and the first Scot to be Britain’s Poet Laureate. Her poems tackle themes of love, gender, and social issues using clear, relatable language. This accessibility, alongside her powerful storytelling, makes her a crucial voice in contemporary poetry as well as one of the most renowned and widely-loved living poets.
For readers who love poetry, and even those who don’t– reading Duffy’s work is a favour to oneself and is never short on delivering beyond one’s expectations. Simple, intelligent, elegiac and brimming with felt emotion, it is an oeuvre worth celebrating.
Dorothy Wordsworth’s Christmas Birthday by Carol Ann Duffy
A charming children’s poem brought to life by Tom Duxbury’s illustrations, this square hardcover captures the magic of a double celebration: Dorothy’s birthday coinciding with Christmas. Remembering the beauty of winter in the Lake District, it emerges as a uniquely literary Christmas poem in its depiction of young Dorothy, her brother William Wordsworth and their friend Samuel Taylor Coleridge. Duxbury’s whimsical artwork complements the festive verses, making this a delightful collectable for bibliophiles and anyone who cherishes the wonder of Christmas mornings.
Wenceslas by Carol Ann Duffy
“The King’s Cook had cooked for the King a Christmas Pie”
And so begins Duffy’s Wenceslas, offering a fresh take on the classic carol, as well as a gobsmacking description of the great mediaeval feast of St. Stephen (the first Christian martyr). While beautifully illustrated by Stuart Kolakovic, the book’s true collectable value lies in its heartwarming twist. Duffy reimagines the king’s feast, but a glimpse of hardship prompts a kind act, reminding readers of the true spirit of the season.
Frost Fair by Carol Ann Duffy
A pithy ballad on London’s ‘Great Winter’ of 1683, Duffy’s Frost Fair is an ornamental and evocative poeticisation of a frost that seeped deep within the soul of the great metropolis. Illustrated by David De Las Heras, Carol Ann Duffy’s “Frost Fair” is a beautifully crafted poem capturing a bygone era. Following a curious narrator who ventures into the frozen River Thames, Duffy depicts an otherworldly realm transformed by the cold– with icy water turning to stone and then a bustling fairground. Filled with festive revelry, the poem brings to life a bygone Christmas with dancing bears, jugglers, and even a wedding on the ice. This collectable book offers a delightful escape into a time of wonder and winter magic.
Politics by Carol Ann Duffy
“How it says this –
politics – to your education education education; shouts this –
Politics! – to your health and wealth; how it roars, to your
conscience moral compass truth, POLITICS POLITICS POLITICS.”
“Politics” isn’t your typical political manifesto. This hard-hitting collection gathers her most powerful poems on social issues like poverty, discrimination, and inequality, alongside war and the fight for justice through protest. Spanning four decades of her work, these verses confront injustice with a clear voice, cementing Duffy’s position as a champion for those unheard.
Nature by Carol Ann Duffy
Carol Ann Duffy’s “Nature” isn’t a single poem, but a stunning collection. It brings together her favourite poems on the natural world, spanning her impressive career. Arranged chronologically, you’ll witness the evolution of her voice exploring themes of growth, decay, resilience, and the profound beauty of the natural world. Whether it’s a tender reflection on a fallen leaf or a celebration of a wild coastline, “Nature” offers a chance to reconnect with the wonders that surround us. It’s a must-read for anyone who seeks solace, inspiration, and a deeper appreciation for the Earth’s magic.
Elegies by Carol Ann Duffy
“Who’ll guess, if they read
your stone, or press their thumbs to the scars
of your dates, that were I alive, I would lie on the grass
above your bones till I mirrored your pose, your infinite grace?
Carol Ann Duffy’s “Elegies” is a poignant tapestry woven from poems exploring loss across within the age-old yet now-modified poetic form of elegies. It’s a beauty born of sorrow, confronting death, grief, and absence with unflinching honesty. The collection isn’t limited to traditional elegies for the deceased; it encompasses the many ways we experience loss, from romantic heartbreak to the fading of youth. Prepare to be moved by Duffy’s masterful use of language as she navigates the complexities of human connection and impermanence.
Love by Carol Ann Duffy
A collection that chronicles the poet’s exploration of and experimentation within the great tradition of love poetry, Carol Ann Duffy’s “Love” is a curated selection of her literary forays into love’s vast landscape. It’s a testament to the beauty in love’s many forms, both passionate and tender. Expect poems that delve into romantic love, but also unconventional expressions of love, pushing the boundaries of the traditional love poem and celebrating the queer as well as the feminist within experiences of desire and tender affection.
Pick up Carol Ann Duffy’s Poetry Collections from any Kunzum store or WhatsApp +91.8800200280 to order. Buy the book(s) and the coffee’s on us.