Seren presents an anthology of poetry about childhood, with royalties going to the Foundling Museum in London.
The Museum, established by Thomas Coram in 1739 with the support of Hogarth and Handel, was both the first orphanage in Britain and the first public art gallery, with an ongoing commitment to the arts and education today.
The book is divided into three sections: orphans and foundlings, infancy, and early childhood. Contributors include poems by the Poet Laureate Carol Ann Duffy, Seamus Heaney, Gillian Clarke, Don Paterson, Helen Dunmore, Michael Longley, Elaine Feinstein, Stephen Knight, Dannie Abse, Carol Rumens, George Szirtes, Kate Bingham and David Harsent, all of whom have donated their work.
The book’s cover features a Foundling Museum artwork by Tracey Emin. The launch event will take place at the Museum, with attendant publicity from supporters such as Stephen Fry.
"The mark of a fine anthology is not just that it explores a theme, not even just that it raises awareness for a cause, but also that it draws, maybe surprises, good new work from its writers. This one is specific, historically rooted, but on an important human level, touches all of us."
Philip Gross
Editor: Tony Curtis was born in Carmarthen in 1946. He is the author of several collections of poetry, including Heaven’s Gate (2001) and Crossing Over (2007), both published by Seren. He won the 1993 Dylan Thomas Award and a Cholmondeley Award in 1997. He is Emeritus Professor of Poetry at the University of Glamorgan, and lives in Barry.