Carcanet Press

Carcanet Press Carcanet publishes an award-winning, comprehensive and diverse list of modern and classic poetry. Carcanet was a literary magazine, founded in 1962.

Michael Hind, a member of the original editorial board, recalls how the idea was to 'collect together and publish as a periodical poetry, short fiction, and "intelligent criticism of all the arts"; there were to be both student and senior members contributions.' The intention was to link Oxford and Cambridge. The magazine Carcanet had fallen on hard times by October 1967 when Michael Schmidt, a ne

wly arrived undergraduate at Wadham College, Oxford, took it over. Times got harder still. In 1969 as a swansong the magazine produced a few pamphlets: poetry by new writers from Britain, India and the United States, and a book of translations. The reviews were encouraging. In 1970-1971 Carcanet Press became Ltd. The swansong continues, the bird having upped sticks and left Matthew Arnold's (and Robert Graves's) South Hinksey, Oxford, for Thomas de Quincey's Manchester.

'Continue to build' is what independent literary houses must do. They build readership and backlist, but also authority and their own legitimacy. We make books available and, in an age of disposables, keep them available. As the balance of publishing shifts to front list, Carcanet, radical in disposition, keeps books in print for as long as possible. This kind of husbandry has more in common with forestry than with fast food. Carcanet enjoys Arts Council support and can range more widely than commercial publishers dare to do. Its list includes, alongside new writers from all over the world, major authors from the twentieth and earlier centuries, figures about whom readers and writers need to know if they are to get a hold on the Modern and its aftermaths. Our commitments involve the mammoth Ford Madox Ford, Robert Graves and Hugh MacDiarmid projects. We have forged strong Anglo-European and Anglo-Commonwealth links. Our focal interest is in literature in English -- all the Englishes now spoken and written. In 1999 the Press acquired Oxford University's fine poetry list. OxfordPoets now emanate from Manchester. Latterly we have forged close links with Glasgow, where Carcanet has an editorial office in the School of English and Scottish Literature and Language. Since the age of the venerable Bede, translation has been crucial to the growth of our literature. Carcanet is naturally active here, producing award-winning translations of the classics and of new work from around the world. Dedicated to discovery, appraisal and reappraisal, Carcanet is a unique survivor in the precarious world of literary imprints. Our editorial continuity has generated a list of deep coherence and innovation, not only among the authors rediscovered but also among the new authors we publish. In an age teased by post-Modern relativism and post-millennial uncertainty, where literary value sometimes plays second fiddle to the demon profit and that other demon of ephemeral political imperatives, Carcanet takes its bearing from Modernism. It bases its activities on the best practice of the last century, during which great lists were forged -- some of which did not survive as independents into the changing twenty-first century.

Lorna Goodison is on tour! Lorna will read at events across the UK and Ireland, where she will discuss her book Dante's ...
13/08/2025

Lorna Goodison is on tour! Lorna will read at events across the UK and Ireland, where she will discuss her book Dante's Inferno, published earlier this year.

Lorna will appear at...

⭐London Review Bookshop, Tuesday 2nd September
⭐Council Room, University College Cork, Thursday 4th September
⭐International Anthony Burgess Foundation, Manchester, Saturday 6th September
⭐The Stove, Dumfries, Tuesday 9th September

More information about the various events can be found here:
https://www.carcanet.co.uk/events/

We're delighted to share that two of our books have been longlisted for the Michael Murphy Poetry Prize. Many congratula...
11/08/2025

We're delighted to share that two of our books have been longlisted for the Michael Murphy Poetry Prize. Many congratulations to Joe Carrick-Varty and Eli Payne Mendel whose collections 'More Sky' and 'The Grid' have both been recognised.

The Michael Murphy Poetry Prize is awarded biennially to debut poetry books published in Britain and Ireland. This years shortlist will announced on Monday 8 September, 2025.

Very well done to Joe and Eli for this fantastic achievement, and congratulations to all the other longlisted writers! 🎉
https://www.carcanet.co.uk/carrick-varty-and-payne-mandel-longlisted-for-michael-murphy-prize/

This week's newsletter includes new dates for Lorna Goodison's UK & Ireland reading tour, a glowing review of David Morl...
08/08/2025

This week's newsletter includes new dates for Lorna Goodison's UK & Ireland reading tour, a glowing review of David Morley's new book, a stunning podcast about Rebecca Goss's poetry, and an extra 10% off all our books by Caribbean authors this month! https://mailchi.mp/carcanet/08082025

08/08/2025

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Join Colin Bramwell and Gregory Woods at events across Edinburgh International Book Festival, from 11th-20th August!Lear...
07/08/2025

Join Colin Bramwell and Gregory Woods at events across Edinburgh International Book Festival, from 11th-20th August!

Learn more here:

Join Colin Bramwell and Gregory Woods at events across Edinburgh International Book Festival!   Our Mother Tongues Monday 11th August,

In this week's newsletter we announce the forthcoming UK & Ireland tour for Jamaica's former poet laureate, Lorna Goodis...
01/08/2025

In this week's newsletter we announce the forthcoming UK & Ireland tour for Jamaica's former poet laureate, Lorna Goodison, with details of her first event in London! Plus meet our August publication, read reviews of new books and listen to new music composed after texts by Carcanet poets! https://mailchi.mp/carcanet/01082025

Happy publication day to our July books! 🎉⭕Eccolo by Hal Coase🟥 Red Carpet by Steve MalmudeUntil the end of today, you c...
31/07/2025

Happy publication day to our July books! 🎉

⭕Eccolo by Hal Coase
🟥 Red Carpet by Steve Malmude

Until the end of today, you can still use the code JULYBOOKS for 10% off and free UK P&P: https://carcanet.co.uk/ ⭕🟥

Join Jane Yeh online on Tuesday 12th August at 7pm for an online poetry workshop exploring 'Pop Culture Poetics' with Ve...
30/07/2025

Join Jane Yeh online on Tuesday 12th August at 7pm for an online poetry workshop exploring 'Pop Culture Poetics' with Verve Poetry Festival.
More information:

Join Jane Yeh for an online workshop exploring ‘Pop Culture Poetics’ with Verve Poetry Festival. In this workshop we’ll play with ways of infusing popular

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Carcanet Press Ltd, Main Library, The University Of Manchester, Oxford Road
Manchester
M139PP

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+441618348730

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