Karen McCarthy Woolf

Ten: the new wave presents poetry from some of the most exciting new poets in Britain today. These ten poets were selected for The Complete Works 2 mentoring project, a groundbreaking initiative to promote diversity and quality in British poetry, initiated by the writer Bernardine Evaristo. The poets follow on from the first group to take part in this scheme, whose work was published in Bernardine Evaristo and Daljit Nagra's anthology Ten: new poets from Spread the Word (2010). Most of those poets have gone on to win awards and have their poetry collections published.

The new poets in this anthology are Mona Arshi, Jay Bernard, Kayo Chingonyi, Rishi Dastidar, Edward Doegar, Inua Ellams, Sarah Howe, Adam Lowe, Eileen Pun and Warsan Shire.

These poets have backgrounds in Asia, Europe, the Caribbean and Africa, and their work draws on their multicultural heritage and tapestry. Many of them also work across art forms and have enjoyed success as playwrights, graphic artists and even in the martial arts.

Talented, adventurous and culturally rich, these poets will open up new landscapes for the reader.

‘I’ll also be reading the exciting, eclectic anthology Ten: The New Wave, which showcases work by some of the best young British black and Asian poets writing today. It’s full of fantastic poems from (among others) Sarah Howe, Warsan Shire, Kayo Chingonyi and Mona Arshi, and will leave you feeling joyful about the future of poetry.’ – Liz Berry, Guardian (Summer Books 2015)

'...a sampler of work by black minority ethnic poets that includes some of the best new verse to be found anywhere.' – Fiona Sampson, Independent

’These ten exciting poets record with confidence and vigour a tune rarely heard on these shores and this collection of their work is a boost to the body of contemporary British poetry.’ – Carol Ann Duffy

’What fantastic poets they are: all those cultures, all that craft.’ – Bernardine Evaristo

The project is directed by Dr Nathalie Teitler, with thanks to Arts Council England for their generous funding. For further information, check out the Complete Works website here.

Click on the VIEW EXTRACT tab below to view readings from the launch of Ten: the new wave by Warsan Shire, Kayo Chingonyi, Jay Bernard, Sarah Howe, Rishi Dastidar, Inua Ellams, Edward Doegar and Adam Lowe.