Favourite Poems of the Countryside

A celebration of British countryside from William Shakespeare to John Betjeman.  

A rich collection of poetry that celebrates our idyllic countryside, with verses on rural life, the changing seasons, the vast woodlands and seascapes of Britain and the wildlife that inhabit them. Beautifully illustrated with nostalgic scenes of England’s pastures, sleepy villages and dramatic landscapes, this anthology includes timeless poetry from the eras of Chaucer and Shakespeare through Pope and Marvell, to Coleridge, Tennyson and Wordsworth right up to Vita Sackville-West and John Betjeman.  

Author Biography

Samuel Carr was a successful editor of a series of poetry anthologies, including Ode to the Countryside and Ode to Flowers. He was also the editor of Classic Hymns and Poems, all published by Batsford.

Jo Bell is best known as the inaugural Canal Laureate for the Canal & River Trust and as director of National Poetry Day. Originally from Sheffield and raised on the edges of the Derbyshire Peak District, her fascination with historic narrowboats ignited her passion for poetry, leading to a remarkable career that included managing a fleet of these vessels. Jo lives on her 67-foot narrowboat Tinker. Boater is Jo’s first work of non-fiction.