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A poetic history of England

A poetic history of England

Catherine Clarke explains why we should treat poems as portals through which to view the more intimate side of history

Lauren Good

Published: March 6, 2026 at 8:00 AM

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How can you do justice to the story of 1,300 years of English history? Through verse, according to cultural historian Catherine Clarke – whose latest book is A History of England in 25 Poems. She takes Lauren Good on a poetic journey through time, exploring how it could be used for spiritual uplift and social change – and how it can offer uniquely human insights into key moments in history.

Authors

Lauren GoodSenior content producer

Lauren Good is a senior content producer at HistoryExtra

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