Poem of the Week

Poem of the Week: 'The Rime of the Ancient Mariner'


This week we don't have a Book of the Week, but a Poem of the Week, Samuel Taylor Coleridge's masterpiece 'The Rime of the Ancient Mariner'.

It is being showcased as part of a Big Read organised by Philip Hoare, who was previously responsible for the Moby Dick Big Read and the author of the wonderful non-fiction study of whales Leviathan.

The Ancient Mariner Big Read is available here: https://www.ancientmarinerbigread.com

Today marks day 11 of the Big Read.  It has taken three years to organise, although the lockdown timing of it might make you think that it was something conceived of more recently, perhaps in the style of the ill-fated 'Imagine' tribute by Gal Godot.  Thankfully, this has been more thoroughly thought-through, and it is well worth your time.  Jeremy Irons began it, and it has contributors as diverse as Iggy Pop, Hilary Mantel, Tilda Swinton and the winner of the Foyle young poets award 2020.

Each reading is accompanied by contemporary artwork.  More details are available in Philip Hoare's article for the Guardian.

If you are minded to, you should certainly check out Leviathan itself, and there's always Moby Dick to return to, or to read for the first time, if you are ever in need of being in the company of greatness.