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Oxfam Life Lines 2

Magazine

Oxfam Poetry

Oxfam have just launched the second Life Lines CD featuring 56 poets reading their own work. Last year’s Life Lines sold an astonishing 10,000, raising £50,000 for the charity.

Michael Rosen, Dannie Abse, Carol Ann Duffy, Ian Duhig, James Fenton and Elaine Feinstein are among the poets who have recorded material for Life Lines 2, Poets for Oxfam. The anthology, edited by Oxfam’s poet-in Residence, Todd Swift, features 56 poets reading their own choice of work (running time 78 minutes).

It includes eminent writers Andrew MotionEnglish poet, novelist and biographer; Poet Laureate of United Kingdom from 1999 to 2009; during his laureateship founded the Poetry Archive, an online resource of poems and audio recordings of poets reading their own work, Wendy Cope and Fleur Adcock, rising stars Dalgit Nagra and Jacob Polley and performance poets Jean 'Binta' Breeze, John Hegley and Attilla the Stockbroker.

‘Poetry has been hotly debated within the media recently, facing concerns that it is losing its mass appeal.  But Oxfam believes poetry is alive – and can help save lives. In a bid to demonstrate how diverse and exciting poetry can be, and to show their support for Oxfam, the UK's leading poets have teamed up to create a CD of their most enthralling work to date.’ Todd Swift, Oxfam Poet in Residence.

The CD is available from Oxfam’s 127 specialist bookshops throughout the UK and selected other Oxfam stores for £4.99, or you can buy it online on their site for £4.99 ($10.24) plus £1 ($2.05) postage and packing. It's an excellent stocking-filler for anyone with any interest in poetry.