Poetry Book Society, established 1953
http://www.poetrybooks.co.uk
e: info@poetrybooks.co.uk
How it all began?
Founded by poet T S Eliot and friends to foster a love of contemporary poetry, the Poetry Book Society (PBS) began life as a specialist book club. Publishers submitted their forthcoming collections to a panel of expert selectors who awarded the ?PBS Choice? to the best book each quarter. Society members? yearly subscription was £2/10/-
Pivotal moments
? 1957 ? Ted Hughes? first collection ?The Hawk in the Rain? receives a PBS Choice
? 1993 ? launch of the annual T S Eliot Prize for Poetry, supported by his widow, Mrs Valerie Eliot
? 2001 ? the PBS poets? tour visits performing arts venues to introduce theatre audiences to the best that contemporary poetry has to offer.
The organisation today
Now the biggest single unit retailer of poetry in the country, the PBS continues to provide information, guidance and discounts on poetry to its members; and also runs an expanding programme of education and literature development projects, all aiming to increase the readership and audience of contemporary poetry.
A big thank you to?
All the poets and publishers who have worked with us over the years, and thank you to Mrs Eliot for her continuing support of the T S Eliot Prize
Celebration events planned
? the publication of ?Don?t Ask Me What I Mean: Poets in their Own Words? (Picador) ? a collection of poets? analysis of their own work
? a survey of readers to discover the poetic favourites of the last 50 years
? a big party!