Jonathan Davidson is a poet, writer and literature activist. He lives in the English Midlands but works internationally. His poetry has been widely published and he has also written memoir and criticism. His radio dramas and adaptations have been broadcast by BBC Radios 3 and 4. Much of his work is focussed on how writing – especially poetry – is experienced by readers and listeners.
Jonathan’s latest poetry collection is A Commonplace – Apples, Bricks & Other People’s Poems (Smith|Doorstop, August 2020). A conversation about how poetry exists as the underlying geology of our lives, Jonathan’s poems are complemented by work of other poets, littered with unruly footnotes. More…
A Commonplace
Bricks, Apples and Other People’s Poems
Published as Print and E-book on 1st August 2020
Events (readings, workshops, etc.)
Writing New Poems & Getting Them Known – Five Session Poetry Short Course for Cheltenham Poetry Festival
Meeting for two hours on Zoom across five weekly sessions (1st August 2022 onwards) this course will use interesting and uncommon poems to get us writing new work. There will be writing exercises and games and opportunities to enjoy each other’s new work. There will also be plenty of ideas for getting poetry shared – places to publish and ways to get work heard – and a chance to learn about the poetry sector in the UK. Each session will be followed up with a weekly e-mail with useful information and the course will finish with a chance to perform a few poems to other participants (not compulsory!) and the usual ‘end of course raffle’ in which absolutely everyone will win a prize. Five places are left as at early June. Book here.
Other news…
On Poetry was selected by the poet Anthony Anaxagorou (author of How to Write It), as one of his Top 10 books about creative writing for The Guardian on 14th October 2020, alongside books by Zadie Smith, Sandeep Parmar and Ben Lerner.
A Commonplace has been included in The Morning Star’s ‘Best of 2020: Poetry‘ list, having been nominated by the poet Rosie Miles.
Jonathan now has a bookshop page on www.bookshop.org enabling some of the books mentioned in On Poetry and A Commonplace to be bought (with independent bookshops and Jonathan both receiving a 10% commission on the value of any books ordered.)
Click here to join Jonathan’s e-mail list
Event Recordings
Book Launch, Sunday 2nd August, 2020
A recording of the Sunday 2nd August 2020 on-line launch of A Commonplace with Jonathan Davidson, Jo Bell, Sue Brown, Gregory Leadbetter and Peter Sansom. More…
Ó Bhéal Poetry Reading Series Cork, Ireland
Nine Arches Press Lunchtime In Conversation
The Swindon Spring Festival of the Arts and Literature 2020
Jonathan Davidson 