"The perfect desert island book." Adam Nicolson
"Reading a poem gives us a glimpse of past and future possibilities, other worlds and other lives. It makes a gift of unfamiliar words, and refreshes parts of the mind that other art forms cannot reach..."
Charlotte Moore, a writer and former English teacher, has loved poetry all her life. Keen to be able to read and talk about poems with others, she set up a weekly poetry club for anyone interested to join her round her fireplace.
This book brings together a selection of the Tuesday Afternoon Poetry Club's favourite poems, some well-known, some less so. The poems are grouped into themes - from home and lovers, to war and the planets - each framed with a little context from Charlotte and delightful insights from members of the group.
The Magic Hour offers a source of lifelong pleasure and nourishment, with words to delight and console, while reminding us of moments of personal significance. It demonstrates how we can all benefit from a dose of poetry in our daily lives.
I LOVED this book so much: warm, honest, informed, generous, original, funny and very touching. It is so various and redeemed from so many hidden corners, it would be difficult to think of an anthology more richly packed. Which of course makes it for me the perfect desert island book. And I can't remember anything of which I have thought, for page after page of surprise and recognition, 'I must keep this to hand.' - Adam Nicolson
A beautiful collection, full of wonderful surprises and old favourites. - Clover Stroud
The Magic Hour has the powerful charm and the heart-lifting sense of surprise and discovery of the best poetry and the best anthologies. I shall keep it near my favourite chair and give it to many. - Hattie Ellis
An immensely enjoyable collection chosen by poetry lovers on a mission to share their enthusiasm. - Martha Kearney
It is an anthology like no other, rich, varied, unexpected and very approachable. Never patronising, Charlotte's own commentary is gentle, informative and often droll... Arranged by theme, her choices range from mesmerising Old English lyrics to such contemporary stars as Alice Oswald... There are some terrific discoveries to be made: riddles, lyrics, ballads, sonnets and nursery rhymes; poems of love, grief, despair, celebration and joy. - The Tablet