November 2009

Yew Tree Press is delighted that Philip Rush's first full collection, Big Purple Garden Paintings, was short-listed for the prestigious Poetry Trust Aldeburgh First Collection prize. The prize went to J O Morgan's sequence Natural Mechanical.

The shortlist for the 2009 Aldeburgh First Collection Prize - one of the most influential and established poetry prizes in the UK - signals the arrival of five authentic and distinctive new poets, says The Poetry Trust, who run and administer the award.

Judge David Constantine says “contemporary poetry in the UK is thriving” with 2009 attracting a record 92 entries. The Poetry Trust announced the shortlist to coincide with 2009 ’s National Poetry Day:

Sian Hughes for The Missing (Salt Publishing)
J O Morgan for Natural Mechanical (C B Editions)
Andrew Philip for The Ambulance Box (Salt Publishing)
Philip Rush for Big Purple Garden Paintings (Yew Tree Press)
Dawn Wood for Quarry (Templar Poetry)

Judge Mimi Khalvati says “There was a great deal of consensus among the judges: all the books in our final shortlist are either intellectually or emotionally compelling”.

Michael Laskey, Chair of the judging panel, says “This is a strong shortlist - five absorbing and very different books that demonstrate the range and relevance of the best contemporary poetry.”

The result was announced on Saturday 7 November during the 21st Aldeburgh Poetry Festival, 6-8 November 2009. The winner receives a cash prize of £3,000, a weeks ‘protected’ writing time on the Suffolk coast and a fee-paying invitation to read at the 2010 Aldeburgh Poetry Festival.

A Date for your Diaries

On Thursday November 12th, Philip Rush and Adam Horovitz will be reading at the Star Anise café in Stroud. Doors open at 7.30 pm, music will be provided by Between the Acts and food and drink will be available.