A History of England in 25 Poems -Hardback

A delightful, thoughtful, and original new way to understand England's history.

A Times Best Book of the Year 2025
A History Extra History Book of the Year 2025

"This is a marvellous idea, quite brilliantly realised. Catherine Clarke takes 25 poems [...] and uses them as windows into the English past, from politics and plagues to nature and nostalgia. Her book is a winning blend of jolly ballads and melancholy reflections, alive to the ways in which the meanings of England and Englishness are never fixed, always changing."
— Dominic Sandbrook, The Times

A Unique Perspective on England's History

This is the history of England told in a new way: glimpsed through twenty-five remarkable poems written down between the eighth century and today. These poems connect us directly with the nation’s past, offering a glimpse into the experiences, emotions, and imaginations of those who lived it.

Explore England Through Poetry

These poems open windows onto wildly different worlds:

• From the public to the intimate
• From the witty to the savage
• From the playful to the wistful

They transport us to:

• Battlefields
• Royal courts
• Coal mines
• Below stairs in great houses

Their creators, who witnessed events ranging from the Great Fire of London to the Miners’ Strike, include both the famous and the forgotten. Yet, each poem invites us into an immersive encounter with their own time.

A Portal to the Past

A History of England in 25 Poems is:

• A constant companion, filled with vivid voices and surprising stories
• A collection of familiar landmarks and language that speaks in new ways on each reading

Catherine Clarke’s knowledge and passion bring these poems to life, offering:

• Thoughtful insights
• Humour
• New perspectives on how the nation has dreamed itself into existence

This book explores who gets to tell England’s story and reveals the ever-evolving meanings of England and Englishness.