Writer and poet simon armitage introduces his book walking away and reads an extract from the book. Walking away is part of the telegraph great reads summe. During the day he would walk, and in the evenings he would stay with those he met along the way while earning cash by giving readings. In addition to the poems that are included in this work, armitage has written additional poetry.
Simon armitage, oxford poetry professor, finds inspiration in the mundane the coming together of apparently incongruous concepts is something that i do a lot. In july 2010, the poet simon armitage, set out to walk the whole of the 256 mile way from north to south. In 2015, he was elected oxford professor of poetry and in 2017 he was appointed. Click and collect from your local waterstones or get free uk delivery on orders over. And he used to give us these little missions they werent experiments they were more like missions.
A new poem by simon armitage, first published in the new statesman on 22 january, 2016. Oct 11, 2014 walking home is no navel gazing contemplation or record of superhuman stamina. Armitage walks along the southwest coast of england, taking no. One summer, simon armitage decided to walk the pennine way a challenging 256mile route usually approached from south to north, with the sun, wind and rain at your back.
Photo by jeremy suttonhibbertgetty images simon armitage was born in west yorkshire, england in 1963. Jun 12, 2015 on new roads with simon armitage five years after completing the pennine way, the poet simon armitage embarked on a companion walk along the southwest coast, giving readings as he went. Simon armitage, renowned for his technique, versatility and passion, rises to the challenge of delineating this supposed milestone in civilization. Walking home by simon armitage and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Poet simon armitage walks the pennine way, north to south, from kirk yetholm in the scottish borders home to marsden, giving nightly poetry readings to pay his way smashing. Poems is a collection of a few of simon armitages works. He earned a ba from portsmouth university in geography, and an. Armitage, a gifted english poet, relates his tramp along the nearly 260 miles of the pennine. Norton anthology school voice free verse runon lines. Simon armitage performing poetry at the 2007 latitude festival near southwold. His stage plays include mister heracles and jerusalem 2005, which was also commissioned by the west yorkshire playhouse. All these are present in simon armitages equally entertaining walking home, an account of the poets attempt on britains most gruelling trail, the 256mile pennine way, as he tramps it the.
He earned a ba from portsmouth university in geography, and an ms in social work from manchester university, where he studied the impact of televised violence on young offenders. On new roads with simon armitage five years after completing the pennine way, the poet simon armitage embarked on a companion walk along the southwest coast, giving readings as he went. After studying geography at portsmouth polytechnic, he worked with young offenders before gaining a postgraduate qualification in social work at manchester university. What makes armitages pilgrimage special is that he attempts to fuel it on poetry alone. However, he resolved to tackle it back to front, walking home towards the yorkshire village where he was born, travelling as a modern troubadour, without a penny in his pockets and singing for his supper with poetry. Needless to say, i very much enjoyed his previous book walking home, in which he walked the pennine way backwards ending up in his yorkshire hometown in the north of the country. A couple of summers ago, the poet simon armitage set out to tackle the pennine way, penniless and backwards. Aug 20, 2007 simon armitage performing poetry at the 2007 latitude festival near southwold. Its a story about britains remote and overlooked interior the wildness of its landscape and the generosity of the locals who sustained him on his journey.
In 2010 simon armitage spent 19 days walking the 256 mile pennine way as a modern troubadour. Walking home with simon armitage special collections. Armitage wanted that, but also, to write a book about the north, one that could observe and. Simon armitage s new book, walking home, describes a similar if shorter kind of adventure. My novel has a copper river in it but its not the basis for the whole book. His selected poems was published in 2001, followed by the universal home doctor 2002 and a new verse adaptation of homers epic, odyssey, in 2006. In addition to the poems that are included in this work, armitage has written additional.
In walking away simon armitage swaps the moorland uplands. Simon armitages new book, walking home, describes a similar if shorter kind of adventure. Phenomenal woman, still i rise, the road not taken, if you forget me, dreams. Travels with troubadour on the pennine way simon armitage. He is also professor of poetry at the university of leeds and succeeded geoffrey hill as oxford professor of poetry when he was elected to the fouryear parttime appointment from 20152019.
Jul 04, 2012 simon armitages walking home is the travelogue of a penniless poet along the pennine way. Simon armitage s most popular book is walking home. Simon armitage books list of books by author simon armitage. Book depository books with free delivery worldwide. Then to those shores that charon patrols, stalking the quayside, haunting beach and bay, harbourmaster and ferryman. Walking home describes this extraordinary, yet ordinary, journey. Jun 03, 2016 writer and poet simon armitage introduces his book walking away and reads an extract from the book. The origins of the poet laureateship date back to the seventeenth century, when it was established as a royal office. See all books authored by simon armitage, including homers odyssey, and short and sweet. In killing time he proves verse to be the perfect language for taking on the big issues of our time, and poetry a genuine alternative in a world ransacked for knowledge and news. Armitages account of the walk, walking home, was published in 2012. Simon armitage was born in marsden, west yorkshire in 1963. Simon armitage on the art of dissent the poet talks about his new collection and why the small, quiet, strong voice is more vital today than ever simon armitage, photographed. Instead walking home is the story of a trip that is more down to earth than that.
He worked as a probation officer for six years before focusing on poetry. He was appointed poet laureate in 2019, succeeding carol ann duffy. Simon armitages walking home is the travelogue of a penniless poet along the pennine way. Walking home simon armitage the travels of mary loosemore. Another slowlypaced but wonderful travel book is the fabulous account of some of britains best railway trips, on the slow train again by michael williams. Walking home fits into the classic unnecessary journey genre, with a cast of local characters and transcendent momentsand never will reading about a hot shower and some foot ointment be quite so enjoyable. Simon armitage biography list of works, study guides. Oct 12, 2015 my novel has a copper river in it but its not the basis for the whole book. Not content with walking the pennine way as a modern day troubadour, an experience recounted in his bestseller and prizewining walking home, the restless poet has followed up that journey with a walk of the same distance but through the very opposite terrain and direction far from home. Walking home by simon armitage walking home the pennine way is not a book of poems from this famous poet but a personal account of simon armitage s experience, walking one of the toughest climbs in britain. Simon armitage is professor of poetry at the university of sheffield, u. Simon armitages walking home is the travelogue of a penniless poet. Walking home by simon armitage an account of walking.
The challenging 256mile route is usually approached from south to north, from edale in the. Simon armitage was born in 1963 in huddersfield, england. Armitage wanted that, but also, to write a book about the north, one. Jul 05, 2012 walking home describes this extraordinary, yet ordinary, journey. Simon armitage poems poems of simon armitage poem hunter. With a straggly grey beard under his bloodshot eyes and a moneybag slung from his bony shoulder he tacks and jibes, tunes the outboard motor. He worked as a probation officer in oldham until 1994. Jun 05, 2012 simon armitage is professor of poetry at the university of sheffield, u. Simon armitage has 99 books on goodreads with 20554 ratings. Walking home the pennine way is not a book of poems from this famous poet but a personal account of simon armitages experience, walking one of the toughest. He studied geography at portsmouth and psychology at manchester university, qualifying as a social worker and working in the probation. He undertook this task, a walk that stretched about 256 miles, in.
Sometimes armitages prose soars and flies as one would expect from a skilled poet, other times it lays as flat as a rain soaked tablecloth. Simon armitage has worked extensively in film, radio and television. Poet simon armitage the modern troubadour bbc news. This resource presents archive material relating to the walk and creation of walking home, held by special collections. Armitage is an english writer who specializes in poetry, plays, and novels. Simon armitage, one of britains bestloved poets, appears at a photocall prior to an event at edinburgh international book festival, on august 24, 2014 in edinburgh, scotland. Simon armitage introduces his book walking away youtube. All these are present in simon armitages equally entertaining walking home. Simon armitage s first recording for the poetry archive was made on 12th july 2005 at the audio workshop, london, while his second was made at the soundhouse, london on 28th july 2016. Simon armitage, an english poet, decides to walk the pennine way, a 256 mile trek down the spine of britain, that starts near his home in marsden and ends in kirk yeltham, just over the scottish border. The challenging 256mile route is usually approached from south to north, from edale in the peak district to kirk yetholm, the other side of the scottish border. Simon armitages first recording for the poetry archive was made on 12th july 2005 at the audio workshop, london, while his second was made at the soundhouse, london on 28th july 2016. At the junior school i went to we had a very excitable science teacher and no equipment which was a bit of a bewildering combination. Buy walking home by simon armitage from waterstones today.
For the record lrb 21 august 1997 ukthepaperv19n16simonarmitagefortherecord. Its about facing emotional and physical challenges, and sometimes overcoming them. Edward, his father, burn, the ancients, the collector, and the copper queen all sprang from that walk along the river. Home services handpicked professionals happiness guarantee. Simon robert armitage, cbe, frsl born 26 may 1963 is an english poet, playwright and novelist who has been poet laureate since 10 may 2019. In one classic walking book, travels in england carl philipp. He undertook this task, a walk that stretched about 256 miles, in the summer of 2010. The crisis manifested itself not in buying a red sports car or taking up with a younger woman, but rather in hiking the pennine way and then writing about it. Killing time by simon armitage, 9780571203604, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. In the summer of 2010 the british poet simon armitage decided to have, at age 47, his midlife crisis. He is a graduate of portsmouth university, where he studied geography. Simon armitage has walked the 256 mile pennine way as a modern troubadour, earning food and accommodation by reading poetry.
His previous titles include kid, book of matches, the dead sea poems, cloudcuckooland, killing time, the universal home doctor, homers odyssey, tyrannosaurus rex versus the corduroy kid, and seeing stars. Apr 04, 20 walking home by simon armitage walking home the pennine way is not a book of poems from this famous poet but a personal account of simon armitage s experience, walking one of the toughest climbs in britain. As a postgraduate student at manchester university, his ma thesis concerned the effects of television violence on young offenders. Armitage charts his journey in his new book, walking home. When simon walked the pennine way for his book walking home, he found that the part of his brain responsible for poetry is also responsible for. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Walking home the pennine way is not a book of poems from this famous poet but a personal account of simon armitages experience, walking one of the toughest climbs in britain. The free tracks you can enjoy in the poetry archive are a. Simon armitage was born in 1963 in the village of marsden and lives in west yorkshire. It is with great pleasure we announce the appointment of simon armitage as the new poet laureate. In summer 2010 simon armitage decided to walk the pennine way.
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