From the rear cover of the book:

A State of Independence brings together the work of some of the most significant practitioners, in the British Isles, of the type of poetry that Shearsman stands for. These poets range from the well-known to the unknown, from those who came to prominence in the sixties to those who only now becoming recognised, from those published by mainstream presses to those only available in fugitive small-press editions. It includes longer poems than is usual for an anthology, and attempts to show enough of each writer's work to enable the reader to get a good understanding of his or her style.

Poets featured are Guy Birchard, Richard Caddel, David Chaloner, Peter Dent, Andrew Duncan, Roy Fisher, Harry Guest, Lee Harwood, Phlip Jenkins, Grace Lake (Anna Mendelssohn), Tom Lowenstein, Christopher Middleton, David Miller, Billy Mills, Peter Riley, Gael Turnbull, Catherine Walsh, and John Welch.

To read Tony Frazer's introduction to this anthology, please click here.

Published by Stride. Click here to go to the Stride website.

What the reviewers said about this anthology:

A STATE OF INDEPENDENCE is another cracking anthology from STRIDE, this time representing a range of non-mainstream poetry selected by Tony Frazer, editor of [.....] Shearsman magazine. Although publishing work of a 'radical' persuasion, Frazer’s non-polemical and excellent introduction sets the scene for a body of poetry which richly deserves a wider readership. [...] This is the best anthology I've come across since CONDUCTORS OF CHAOS in 1996. (Steve Spence, Poetry Quarterly Review)

This selection from [Shearsman]'s favourite poets hits the radical pioneers of brit po: Andrew Duncan, Harry Guest, Roy Fisher, Peter Riley, Christopher Middleton, Gael Turnbull, Grace Lake, Lee Harwood, John Welch, Cardiff's Philip Jenkins and others. [...] Frazer says they represent no school but they certainly don’t read like a Seren collection — "so much culture amongst the dirt" - Billy Mills. Certainly worth a serious look. (Peter Finch, Cardiff Magazine)

... a rewardingly varied anthology ... poems such as these may, hopefully, persuade readers suspicious of the avant-garde credentials (real or supposed) of some of the poets represented here to sample A State of Independence. It is hard to imagine that any reader who trusts his or her responses here, and tries to read without too many presuppositions, won't find a good deal to enjoy in A State of Independence. Doubtless the reader will find things that irritate too – but that can be just as profitable an experience! [...] I recommend the book highly to all other readers. (Patricia Oxley, Acumen)