Smokestack Books

"Ah-oh, smokestack lightning
Shinin', just like gold
Why don't ya hear me cryin'?"

Howling Wolf

Smokestack champions poets who are unconventional, unfashionable, radical or left-field and who are working a long way from the metropolitan centres of cultural authority.

Smokestack is interested in the World as well as the Word.

"In the dark times
Will there also be singing?
Yes, there will also be singing
About the dark times."

Bertolt Brecht

Smokestack believes that poetry is a part of and not apart from society.

"In poetry everything is permitted.
With only this condition, of course:
You have to improve on the blank page."

Nicanor Parra

Smokestack does not think "difficulty" in poetry is a virtue or that poetry is a place in which to hide.

Smokestack argues that if poetry does not belong to everyone it is not poetry.

"Smokestack has a great squad of radical poets lined up for its first season. I predict that the team will roll like thunder, strike like lightening and electrify British poetry."

Adrian Mitchell

Touring this Summer

Smokestack Books are bringing Martín Espada and Jon Andersen to the UK in July. They will be reading from their books (see below) on:

Wednesday 9 July: The Python Gallery, Royal Middlehaven House, Gosford Street, Middlesbrough, TS2 1BB
Telephone: 01642 247745
Email:
Thursday 10 July: The Lit & Phil, 23 Westgate Road, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 1SE
Telephone: 0191 232 0192
Email:
Friday 11 July (lunch-time): Central Library, St Peter's Square, Manchester, M2 5PD
Telephone: 0161 234 1900
Friday 11 July (evening): Tullie House Castle Street, Carlisle, Cumbria, CA3 8TP
Telephone: 01228 618718
Saturday 12 July, 7.30 p.m.: Southwell Poetry Festival, Southwell Library.
Sunday 13 July: Ledbury Festival
Monday 14 July: Marx Memorial Library, 37a Clerkenwell Green, London EC1R 0DU
Telephone: 0207 253 1485.

Seeds of Fire

Contemporary Poetry from the Other USA

Seeds of Fire brings together the work of over fifty poets from the other USA. Lyrical, satirical, raging and prophetic, they bear witness against the crippling nationalism promoted by the ruling political parties and corporate media in the United States.

"keep this wonderful volume in the car... or buy an extra copy for the waiting room of your favourite doctor's office"

Pete Seeger

More about Seeds of Fire: Contemporary Poetry from the Other USA

Crucifixion in the Plaza de Armas

Crucifixion in the Plaza de Armas is a collection of Martín Espada's Puerto Rico poems. Espada means 'sword' in Spanish, and the poet contemplates the meanings of his name for conquerors and rebels over the centuries. He writes of colonialism and the movement for independence, and he also creates a narrative of family, searching the mountains for the grave of his great-grandfather, or bearing witness to the struggles of his cousins to survive.

More about Crucifixion in the Plaza de Armas

Full list of Smokestack publications.

See our full Publications List

Buying Smokestack Books

Order Smokestack books from Inpress.

Trade orders from:
Central Books,
99 Wallis Road,
London E9 5LN
Telephone: 0845 4589911

To order direct from Smokestack Books (please add 50p postage & packing), or for further information, contact:
PO Box 408,
Middlesbrough TS5 6WA
Telephone: 01642 813997

Smokestack Books is partnered with Inpress
Smokestack Books is a member of Independent Northern Publishers
Smokestack Books is supported by the Arts Council of England (North East) and Middlesbrough Borough Council.