Collected Poems

This comprehensive collection features David Constantine's poetry from 1980 to 2002, along with new works. It reflects his unique voice, balancing themes of celebration and anxiety across three decades.

Collected Poems is a comprehensive anthology that showcases the evolution of David Constantine's work from 1980 to 2002. This retrospective includes all of his previously published collections, starting with A Brightness and concluding with Something for the Ghosts, along with a selection of new poems. The collection has received a Poetry Book Society Recommendation, highlighting its significance in contemporary poetry.

David Constantine is recognized as one of the most distinguished poets writing in English today. His poetry is characterized by a unique perspective that sets it apart from the prevailing literary trends. Drawing inspiration from European poets, Constantine's work embodies a deeply humane vision of the world. His poems often evoke a sense of unease, blending elegiac tones with moments of dark humor, and are marked by an intricate interplay of pain and pleasure.

Throughout the three decades represented in Collected Poems, readers will find a thoughtful balance between celebration and anxiety, as well as restraint and longing. This collection not only compiles works from seven previous Bloodaxe titles and two limited editions but also introduces a full set of new poems. Following this anthology, Constantine continued to publish additional collections, including Nine Fathom Deep in 2009 and Elder in 2014, further establishing his voice in the literary landscape.