This is the history of England told in a new way: glimpsed through twenty-five remarkable poems written down between the eighth century and today, which connect us directly with the nation’s past, and the experiences, emotions and imaginations of those who lived it.
A Times Book of the Year
A BBC History Extra History Book of the Year
A Times Book of the Week
A Financial Times Book of the Year: Poetry
A BBC Radio 4 Book of the Week
A History of England in 25 Poems
"A marvellous idea, quite brilliantly realised"
Dominic Sandbrook, The Times
"A charming mix of history, travel and literature"
Alice Loxton, BBC History Extra
"Catherine Clarke traces centuries of English thought and poetry, from the time of Beowulf to the protests written in the wake of Brexit. She weaves together the personal and the public with stories of the Danelaw, French nobles, Yorkshire miners, and the heart-rending plight of the 16th-century Protestant martyr Anne Askew. An excellent, all-encompassing read."
The Idler
About Me
I'm a historian and writer with a passion for sharing stories. As an academic, I'm a Professor at the Institute of Historical Research, and I also hold a Visiting Professorship in English Literature at the University of Southampton. As an author, I write for wider audiences and love opportunities to speak and share my research.
Originally a specialist in the Middle Ages, I now work across periods of history and literature, with particular interests in place, heritage, and uses of the past. I've published on topics from medieval towns and cities to pilgrimage, from the earliest English poetry to underground legends, and from AI and 'Levelling Up' to the cultural history of mud. My research takes me to all kinds of fascinating and unexpected places, from walking in the Welsh Marches, to exploring devotional practices in Ethiopia, to crawling through the Bronze Age mines deep under Cheshire's Alderley Edge.
I am represented by Gordon Wise and Elliot Prior at Curtis Brown.
Events
Forthcoming events featuring my new book, A History of England in 25 Poems.
More events and details will be added here. Keep an eye on my social media for further details and booking information.
-
Sunday 22 March 2026: Oxford Literary Festival
Catch up...
Catch up here with selected event and media recordings.
More coming soon!
BBC Radio 4, 22 September 2025: Start the Week, Contains Strong Language Festival, Bradford. Listen on BBC Sounds.
BBC Radio 4: 22 -26 September 2025: Book of the Week - A History of England in 25 Poems (not currently available)
BBC Radio 6 Music, 26 October 2025: Cerys Matthews, Slow Sunday: Margaretha Van Dam & Catherine Clarke – Curds, Culture & Verse. Intro at 1:43 and interview from 2:04. Listen on BBC Sounds.
BBC Countryfile Magazine 'Plodcast', 28 October 2025: Discover the history of England in 25 poems - with Catherine Clarke. Listen online.
'Can Popular History Be Radical? Historical research and writing for the public' (Historical Research Lecture, 2025), 4 November 2025. Watch online.
Doing History with Poetry: A Conversation with Catherine Clarke and Hannah Lowe (Creighton Lecture 2025), 9 September 2025
Standard Issue Podcast, 10 October 2025: The Rhyme and Reason of History. Listen online.
Beach Hut
If you follow me on social media, you'll know my favourite place to write - whenever I can manage it - is my beach hut, close to my home in Southbourne, Dorset. I love sharing pictures of the sea through changing weather and seasons. You'll find some more photos in the Gallery below.
%20Catherine%20Clarke%2015-10-2407890_websize.jpg)
