Shortlisted for London’s BIG READ 2019
Fifty of contemporary poetry’s most exciting voices speak out about mental health in this groundbreaking anthology. Edited by Amy Acre and Jake Wild Hall. Foreword by Melissa Lee-Houghton. Supported by Arts Council England.
Featuring work from Amy Acre, Raymond Antrobus, Mona Arshi, Dean Atta, Joel Auterson, Rob Auton, Dominic Berry, Mary Jean Chan, Sean Colletti, Iris Colomb, Jasmine Cooray, Dizraeli, Caleb Femi, Maria Ferguson, Kat François, Anne Gill, Salena Godden, Jackie Hagan, Jake Wild Hall, Emily Harrison, Nicki Heinen, Gabriel Jones, Anna Kahn, Malaika Kegode, Luke Kennard, Sean Wai Keung, Cecilia Knapp, Melissa Lee-Houghton, Amy León, Fran Lock, Rachel Long, Roddy Lumsden, Katie Metcalfe, Rachel Nwokoro, Kathryn O’Driscoll, Gboyega Odubanjo, Jolade Olusanya, Abi Palmer, Bobby Parker, Deanna Rodger, C.E. Shue, Lemn Sissay MBE, Ruth Sutoyé, Rebecca Tamás, Joelle Taylor, Claire Trévien, David Turner, R A Villanueva, Byron Vincent, Pascal Vine, Antosh Wojcik and Reuben Woolley.
‘This brilliant, inspiring collection not only illuminates the richness and variety of human pain, sexuality and embodiment better than any clinical text, but also shows us what language is for. Rather than labelling and imposing psychiatric categories, words here give a voice to each person’s experience, challenging and questioning what we are supposed to feel, say and be.’ Darian Leader
‘A brave and vital anthology by some of this country’s most exciting voices.’ Rae Earl
‘A vital anthology with too many constellations of brilliant poets and poems to pick out individuals; these are important poems of witness, to one’s own body and mind, to institutions, to society which is failing those who need it most. Ultimately, there is a hope here, whatever the body has endured, whatever the mind has seen, there is still poetry where things might be reported or made sense of, or redeemed.’ Andrew McMillan
‘Packed full of the greatest poetic minds you could ever wish to read, in a moment of need. Anything with Byron Vincent AND Lemn Sissay is a collection worth keeping close.’ Jack Rooke
‘The Dizziness of Freedom is a thought-provoking and challenging take on mental health conditions. It approaches the subject with honesty, providing an important contribution to challenging the stigma around mental health.’ Barbara Keeley, Shadow Minister for Social Care and Mental Health
ATTEND THE LAUNCH EVENTS
20th Sept: Rich Mix, London TICKETS
with Joelle Taylor, Dean Atta, Salena Godden, Byron Vincent & special guests
24th Sept: Wardrobe Theatre, Bristol TICKETS
with Deanna Rodger, Rachel Long, Jolade Olusanya, Kathryn O’Driscoll & special guests, in partnership with Milk Poetry
3rd Oct: Waterstones, Birmingham TICKETS
with Luke Kennard, Mary Jean Chan, Antosh Wojcik, Anne Gill & special guests, in partnership with Verve Poetry Fest
9th Oct: All Saints Church, York TICKETS
with Rob Auton, Jackie Hagan, Kat Francois & Maria Ferguson, in partnership with Say Owt
