Poems that Make Grown Women Cry

About Poems That Make Grown Women Cry

Poems That Make Grown Women Cry is an anthology edited by Anthony Holden and Ben Holden in which a hundred women each choose the poem that moves them most. If you are searching for poems that make grown women cry, or for a deeply personal poetry gift, this collection is full of heart. Please message us on WhatsApp at 9906523492 for details of the copy in stock, including the publisher and number of pages.

It is a companion to Poems That Make Grown Men Cry by the same editors. Each contributor introduces her chosen poem with a short note explaining why it matters to her, so you are not only reading poetry but also meeting the reader behind it. That personal touch is what makes the book so easy to love.

What Poems That Make Grown Women Cry is about

• A hundred poems chosen by well-known women from many walks of life.
• Short introductions in which each contributor explains why her poem moves her.
• Poems spanning around twelve centuries, from the eighth century to the present day.
• Themes of love, loss, mortality, war, peace, family and courage.
• An afterword by Sebastian Faulks.

Contributors named in coverage of the book include Yoko Ono, Judi Dench, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Joan Baez, Olivia Colman, Joanna Lumley, Vanessa Redgrave, Meera Syal, Mary Beard, Annie Lennox, Imtiaz Dharker, Carol Ann Duffy and Elena Ferrante, among others. The anthology was produced in partnership with Amnesty International UK. Because the poems are short, you can pick it up for five minutes or for a long evening, and almost every page offers something to think about. It is the kind of book that lives happily on a bedside table or a coffee table, and that guests will pick up and start reading without being asked. Many readers keep it for years and return to it when they need a poem for a farewell, a birthday card or a quiet moment of their own. The choice of poems ranges from the very old to the very recent, so there is always something unexpected on the next page.

About the author, Anthony Holden and Ben Holden

Anthony Holden is an award-winning British journalist and biographer, and Ben Holden is his son, a writer and film producer. Together they edited the earlier anthology Poems That Make Grown Men Cry and then this companion volume for women. Their idea was simple and generous: ask people what poem has made them cry, and let their answers form the book.

Why Poems That Make Grown Women Cry is worth reading

Poetry can feel distant, but a poem chosen by someone who loves it comes alive. This anthology reminds readers that strong feelings are normal and that poems can give them words. It is also a wonderful introduction to poetry for people who do not read much of it, because the contributors act like friendly guides. Readers of Poems That Make Grown Women Cry often find a new favourite poet or rediscover an old one. It also makes a very thoughtful gift for a mother, sister, friend or colleague who loves books.

Who should read this book

• Anyone who loves poetry, and anyone who is new to it.
• Readers who like anthologies they can dip in and out of.
• Gift buyers looking for something personal and meaningful.
• Students and teachers of English literature.
• Admirers of the contributors who want to know what moves them.

How to get the most from this book

Do not read it straight through in one go. Read a few poems at a time, and read the contributor’s introduction before the poem itself. Say the poems aloud if you can. Make a note of the ones that touch you and look up the poet’s other work. If you read it with a friend, trade your favourites and see which ones you both love.

Frequently asked questions

Is this only for women?
No. Anyone can read it. The contributors are women, but the poems are for everybody.

Is there a companion book?
Yes, Poems That Make Grown Men Cry, edited by the same editors.

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