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In the first two groups the themes are developed in personal terms, grounded in a strong sense of place – growing up in Sheffield and, latterly, living in Denmark. 

Groups three and four widen the perspective, first through exploring the relationship between poetry and the visual arts, and then by facing up to major issues in the contemporary world, notably the maltreatment of Planet Earth and the ongoing climate crisis.

A distinctive feature of this collection is the grouping of poems that link poetry to the other arts – to music, to paintings, to reimaginings of classical literature – where the themes of time and memory find expression in a range of forms. 

Michael Benton taught English for ten years in secondary schools in London and Manchester before taking up a Lectureship at Southampton University. He retired in 2001 as Emeritus Professor of Education. His many articles and books have made a notable contribution to literary education for over fifty years.

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Phil Carroll takes us on his global odyssey of voyages as a deck cadet in the early-1980s. It was the cusp of change in the merchant navy as containerisation began to dominate world shipping. Heady weeks ‘on the coast’ in traditional cargo ships in old ports, giving way to fleeting visits by ‘box boats’ to swanky new concrete container wharves, miles from town. He vividly describes his worldwide adventures at sea and in port in a male-dominated environment of British officers and Chinese, Barbadian, and UK crews. Interwoven in his narrative are nuggets of maritime history and simple technical descriptions, bringing a bygone seafaring era to life. Sea experience consolidated his studies in college to earn his Second Mate’s ticket, the climax of his cadetship.

Flagging at work, being submerged in an illustrious corporate lifestyle, making money matters at whatever cost to the soul or planet, Jim battled to justify his increasing impact to an unsustainably selfish system. Jim was never destined for office work, but it consumed him nonetheless. As a West Country man in his mid-twenties – who crosses the border between immaturity and a midlife crisis – he quit his job and set off.

Having recently passed his motorbike licence; this was his lifeline and an opportunity for reflection. In need of a new direction, Jim embraced the challenge of Iberia by Bike (Spain, Portugal and a bit more) riding almost 10,000 kilometres through southwest Europe with little more than a tent and his ‘particular’ companion.

So you’re struggling with the soul-sucking office job. What do you do? The short answer – be bold, it’s your life, you choose!

Dive into Spain, France and Portugal on this journey of discovery that encourages personal exploration and development. You’ll encounter recommended remote spots, wild camping, city breaks, hidden gems and the paths and patios in between.

The year is 1988.

The Cold War is ending.

Europe’s near-abroad unlocks …

… and a 30-year-old Londoner attempts a road trip from France to western Turkey with a vintage Bentley – the book’s eponymous heroine. Their journey unfolds into a circumnavigation of the Mediterranean Sea. The Bentley’s heroic skittishness is a source of comedy and woe. She proves an antidote to the author’s frustration with his non-committal girlfriend at home.

This book will appeal to adventurers and travellers, to students of human nature and of late-20th-century European history, to classic-car enthusiasts and petrolheads, and to all who enjoy a gripping story.

The Lady With No Name forms Part One of the Borderline Pass trilogy.

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The year is 1988. The Cold War is ending. Europe’s near-abroad unlocks … and a 30-year-old Londoner attempts a road trip from France to western Turkey in a vintage Bentley. A journey that unfolds into a beautifully described circumnavigation of the Mediterranean Sea. 

The next expedition was to ride a Russian copy of a German WWII military motorcycle with sidecar from Moscow to Madrid, but … 

In the final episode, the author and his new bride drive a condemned VW Beetle from Tuscany, through the Bosnian war zone, into Albania in the search for an idyll. 

This span of eight years gives a kerbside view of late twentieth-century Europe, a time and place already unfamiliar. 

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In Their Hands is the gripping and intensely moving true story of the battle to save Sophie’s life. It is full of love and hope and celebrates the gift of life as well as the touching kindness of strangers.

As they enter the labour ward, Emma and Jamie have no idea that their unborn baby is critically ill. Expecting soon to be cuddling their longed for fi rst child, the couple instead fi nd themselves in the middle of a grave medical emergency. They watch their daughter try, and fail, to take a fi rst breath, witness her being resuscitated, sit beside her as she fights for her life in intensive care, listen to doctors telling them she’ll probably die and even begin planning her funeral.

All proceeds donated to Early Lives, the UCLH neonatal charity

Read more about Emma Innes 

Sien offers an insight into the life of one of the most enigmatic characters in history. It’s her story, told by her, in her own voice. It’s a love story in the true sense of the word, between a woman and a man who just wanted to be together, but who weren’t allowed that simple desire.

Clasina Maria Hoornik was born in The Hague on 22nd February 1850, the eldest of eleven children. She was forced to turn to prostitution to help support the family.

Van Gogh’s relationship with Sien made a huge impact on his way of drawing, and it served to build his character and influence his later, now famous, oil paintings. He helped her when he himself was in need of help and lacking the luxury of money. Van Gogh despaired of her rejection by “respectable society” and the loss of his little family.

Lauren Frances is an avant-garde artist whose work has been the subject of book covers, exhibitions and was even used on Paris streets during the “yellow vest” protests in 2018. She has applied her extensive knowledge and admiration of the work of Vincent van Gogh in Sien, her debut novel, planned as the first in a trilogy.

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Briton Ferry. A small town near the banks of the river Neath, once a bustling industrial town with busy docks (fed with coal from the Afan valleys, transported down via the incline) and heavy industries, such as steelworks. In among all this hustle and bustle there was a need for a sporting recreation to alleviate workday stresses. An escape from the smoke and the heat.

What better than a game of rugby?

Many teams were formed in the last decades of the 1800s and in the early 1900s, within the town itself and in the surrounding areas, but one stands out as the shining beacon, Briton Ferry RFC.

This is the story of rugby in the town, the playing grounds, headquarters, games won and lost and, above all, the characters who have enriched the clubís history over the last 125 years ñ from Welsh internationals to war heroes, from whole families (whose huge service helped bind the club together) to individual players and committee members (who have all played their part). And there is a promise of more history, to be written by a new breed:

The Story of the Ferry

She says: “I know from experience that the basics of reading and writing music are necessary if you want to perform well as a singer or musician. How else can you really understand what the composer wants from you? Can you imagine what it must be like to pick up a piece of music and see all the components moving around a page? Or to want to perform a particular piece of music but to be unable to remember the words you are supposed to sing, even though you can see them clearly in front of you. Or to be unable to access the information the composer has given you to perform the piece? The experience can be overwhelming. I believe that with the correct aids and methods many of the problems experienced by dyslexic and learning disabled students can be signifi cantly reduced and, in some instances, resolved. My first experience of teaching a dyslexic student made me realise that although there were aids and methods that could assist in their learning, they were not easily available. Much of the information was anecdotal and there was no one place to access it all from. I have researched and tested the anecdotal evidence and developed my own methods. I also employ assistive technology when teaching my students, some who are now experimenting with composing music. This book presents the aids and methods I have found most effective when teaching a dyslexic student and I hope you and your students will find it useful.”

Children love being read to by the adults in their lives. However, many adults don’t feel confident about reading expressively, so don’t enjoy it as much as they could. How to Enjoy Reading Aloud to Young Children is full of advice and practice on how have fun – with obvious benefits for child and adult.

If you’d like a print copy or a PDF please contact me