John Siddique

John Siddique is an ideal poet for twenty-first century Britain, he is one of the finest post-racial writers. His writing is direct and human, reflecting the world and people of today. His work has at times been compared to that of Philip Larkin and ee cummings, yet his voice is uniquely his own. His passion for sharing literature sees him drawing on the whole tradition of poetry and often creating and working in a whole range of places where you would expect to find art. He has worked in prisons, schools, and hospitals, and is involved in promoting regeneration and renaissance. Recent commissions include creating a poem for the seaside town of Blackpool, which will be permanently installed by the sea, and a series of portraiture poems exploring the immigrant experience in Manchester for Lancaster University. John is The British Council's Writer in Residence at Cal State, LA 2009. He has published four collections of poetry including one for children, he has written a short play for BBC Radio 3's, and co-authored a collection of short stories. His new book 'RECITAL - An Almanac' is published by SALT.