Canongate acquires Pádraig Ó Tuama's Poetry Unbound

Canongate is to publish Poetry Unbound, edited by podcast host Pádraig Ó Tuama.

The anthology is based on the poetry podcast of the same name, and will gather some of the poems from the first three series, featuring include brand new selections, exclusive to the book. Launched in 2020, each podcast offers an immersive reflection on a single poem. 

The synopsis explains: "Many people wish to love poetry but struggle to read it. This collection offers reflections from Pádraig – placing personal anecdotes alongside insights into the content of the poem, and – most importantly – considering the poem as a window through which contemporary life can be viewed. Poetry Unbound is a companion for people who love poetry and want to go deeper into it with the story of a life." 

C.e.o. Jamie Byng acquired world English rights to Poetry Unbound from Clare Conville at C&W. Canongate will publish in hardback in October 2022.

Ó Tuama said: "I am thrilled to be joining Canongate for the publication of Poetry Unbound. Jamie Byng and the team have shown heart and enthusiasm for the project. Poetry Unbound started as a podcast from On Being, and in a year, we racked up four million downloads. It’s been moving to hear from so many people – some poets, some well read in poetry, others new to it – who have found interest in the approach taken to poems in this project. I’ve always read poetry with curiosity, and as part of a conversation, and Canongate have shown such a huge interest in this approach. It’s a joyous pairing."

Byng added: "Listening this past year to Pádraig Ó Tuama’s podcast, 'Poetry Unbound', has been a profound and consistently surprising experience, a constant balm amidst the many uncertainties. Pádraig’s ability to unpack poems through his conversational yet informative analysis, combined with his outstanding selections, often by people I had never heard of, has enhanced my appreciation of poetry no end. And so I am delighted that we are going to be publishing together the first Poetry Unbound book, an anthology that I believe will help to change the way people read poetry."