new leonard clark publication

 - to be launched in Cinderford!

More than forty years after the writer and poet Leonard Clark, who grew up in Cinderford, passed away, a brand new collection of his work is being published. Dr John Howlett of Keele University has collaborated with the Clark family and the new Forest of Dean Writers Collection Project to bring together some of the late poet's very best work. The new book, Leonard Clark: Every Voice, selected poems,  published by Greenwich Exchange, will be launched on Saturday 7th December in Cinderford itself, just a a few steps from the poet's childhood home, and the church where his ashes are interred.
At the launch event will be an exhibition about Clark featuring photographs of the young poet, and other details of his life and work newly discovered amongst his extensive personal archive recently donated by his family to the Dean Heritage Centre, in Soudley. Editor of the new book John Howlett will be joined by Clark's son and literary executor Robert Clark (who wrote a foreword to the new book), Clark's daughter Mary-Louise, and Reading the Forest's Dr Roger Deeks. The discussion will be chaired by former BBC presenter and now podcast host Jo Durrant and will feature recordings of Clark himself reading some of the poems in the new collection. 

Join us for this free event (and free refreshments) to discover more about this fine 'Forest poet', and to purchase your exclusive signed copy of the new book. 

Robert Clark recently visited the Forest of Dean to see some of the places connected with his late father, and to visit the new Collection at Dean Heritage Centre. In discussion with Roger Deeks, Robert gave some amazing insights into his father and his work, and we'll be releasing film extracts of those conversations over the coming weeks here on the Reading the Forest web pages.