'Vibrant new voices' characterise 'disruptive' T S Eliot prize shortlist

"Vibrant new voices” characterise this year’s “disruptive” T S Eliot prize shortlist (see below), which also includes two titles technically not eligible for the award because they fell short of the 48 pages required for submission.

Katie Farris’ Standing in the Forest of Being Alive (Pavilion Poetry, Liverpool University Press) and Eiléan Ní Chuilleanáin’s The Map of the World (Gallery Press) were submitted by publishers and put before the judges in error, but when notified of this, the judges declined to exclude them, noting "both are fully achieved poetry collections that merit their inclusion on the shortlist”. 

The T S Eliot Prize is awarded annually to the writer of the best new poetry collection published in the UK and Ireland. The winning poet will receive a cheque for £25,000 and the shortlisted poets will be presented with cheques for £1,500.

This year’s shortlist whittled down 186 poetry collections and includes previous winner Sharon Olds for Balladz (Cape Poetry) as well as two debuts, Joe Carrick-Varty for More Sky (Carcanet Press) and Farris’ Standing in the Forest of Being Alive. Carcanet Press has three works shortlisted, while Bloodaxe Books has two nominations.

On behalf of the judges Paul Muldoon said: “We are confident that all 10 shortlisted titles not only meet the high standards they set themselves, but speak most effectively to, and of, their moment. If there’s a single word for that moment it is surely ‘disrupted’, and all these poets properly reflect that disruption. Shot through though they are with images of grief, migration, and conflict, they are nonetheless imbued with energy and joy. The names of some poets will be familiar, others less so; all will find a place in your head and heart.”

Shortlist readings will take place on Sunday 14th January 2024 at the Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall as part of its literature programme. The winner will be announced at the award ceremony on Monday 15th January 2024. 

Last year’s winner was Anthony Joseph for his collection Sonnets for Albert (Bloomsbury Poetry). 

The shortlist in full: 

• Jason Allen-Paisant Self-Portrait as Othello (Carcanet Press)
• Joe Carrick-Varty More Sky (Carcanet Press)
• Jane Clarke A Change in the Air (Bloodaxe Books)
• Kit Fan The Ink Cloud Reader (Carcanet Press)
• Katie Farris Standing in the Forest of Being Alive (Pavilion Poetry, Liverpool University Press) 
• Ishion Hutchinson School of Instructions (Faber & Faber)
• Fran Lock Hyena! (Poetry Bus Press)
• Eiléan Ní Chuilleanáin The Map of the World (Gallery Press)
• Sharon Olds Balladz (Cape Poetry)
• Abigail Parry I Think We’re Alone Now (Bloodaxe Books)