Poetry London

I am reviewing two new volumes of poetry in the latest (Autumn 2018, Issue 91) Poetry London: Esther Morgan’s The Wound Register and Martina Evans’ Now We Can Talk Openly About Men.

The Tablet

I reviewed Christopher Reid’s Old Toffer’s Book of Consequential Dogs (Faber) in The Tablet on 13 October 2018

Bloomsbury Festival

I wrote the script for what turned out to be a very successful sell-out event at the Bloomsbury Festival (18 and 20 October) celebrating the Poetry Bookshop which flourished in Bloomsbury in the early part of the 20th Century. The production involved live music and words.

The Poem of the North

I am one of 50 poets contributing to an interesting project from the Northern Poetry Library, a composite “Poem of the North” consisting of 50 stanzas and published online in stages.

New Welsh Writing Awards

I won third prize in the New Welsh Writing Awards announced at the Hay Festival of Literature on 29th May

New Issue of Scintilla

I have two poems in the latest issue of Scintilla magazine, the annual of the Vaughan Association

Stoke Newington Bookshop: Crossings 12 March

I talked about and read from my book Crossings at the Stoke Newington Bookshop on Monday 12 March at 8pm.

Poetry Collection 14 February

My new poetry pamphlet, The Museum of Truth, was published on 14 February with a London launch alongside Ian Pople and Andrew McCulloch. Copies are available post free directly from the publisher, Melos.

TLS 9 February

My “Freelance” column on Hay-on-Wye appeared in the Times Literary Supplement on 9 February.

New Poems in Dark Horse

I have four poems in the new issue of Dark Horse magazine.

Liverpool Victorian Society Lecture 2 December

I gave the Brenda Murray Memorial Lecture to the Victorian Society Liverpool Group on Saturday 2 December at 2.15pm at the Quaker Meeting House, Liverpool (next to the Bluecoat Chambers). I  talked about some writers and film-makers who have given us their versions of Liverpool.

Poetry in Presteigne 13 November

I read with the Rack Poets, William Palmer and Chris Kinsey at “Poetry in Presteigne” at the Radnorshire Arms, Presteigne, Powys at 7.30 on Monday 13th November

Camden 3 November

I  read with other Melos poets, Cathy Galvin and William Palmer at Camden Poetry – Trinity United Reform Church, 1 Buck St, Camden Town, London NW1 8NJ. Friday 3 November 7.00p.m.(doors open 6.30)

Independent Voices 18 October

I read with Rory Waterman and Caroline Smith and readers Jean Woollard, Sarah Chatwin and Mark Unwin at an event at the Bloomsbury Festival on 18 October featuring poems of politics and engagement.

Poetry Marathon 9 September

I took part in the day long Poetry Marathon at Knighton, Powys in aid of the Knighton Refugee Support Group and the day was a great success.

Presteigne Festival 25 August 2017

I talked about my book Crossings and read poems from The Migrant Ship at the Presteigne Festival on 25th August at Discoed Church.

TLS Freelance Column 30 June

I contributed a Freelance column to the TLS on 30 June based on a recent trip to Anaphi in the Cyclades and talking about guidebooks.

Ledbury Poetry Festival 2 July

I read from my new political satire A Dog’s Brexit at the Ledbury Poetry Festival on Sunday 2 July. Thank you to everyone who came and who made it such a success.

My New Pamphlet

My new political satire in verse A Dog’s Brexit, is available from Melos. For once, I seem to have my timing right!

Tactical Reading (Eyewear)

I have contributed the concluding chapter, “The People Have Not Spoken: delusions of the new populism” to the new election book, Tactical Reading: a snappy guide to the snap election (Eyewear Publishing, Squint Books, £7.99)

Four New Poems in Scintilla

I have four new poems in the annual Welsh magazine Scintilla just published.

 

Three New Poems on MIR Online

I have three new poems published in the Mechanics Institute Review Online (Birkbeck University of London) in March.

Literary Review “Pulpit” column on the state of poetry February 2017

I wrote February's “Pulpit” column in the Literary Review on the putative Golden Age of poetry.

The Migrant Ship reviewed in Tikkun (USA) Spring 2017

My latest poetry collection, The Migrant Ship (Melos) is reviewed in the Spring issue of Tikkun where Joshua Weiner writes that the title poem is "at once beautifully spare, allegorically open, and made with tough craft”.

1 December “First Thursday” at Chapter Arts, Cardiff

I read from my new book Crossings: a journey through borders and my latest poetry collection The Migrant Ship (Melos) at Chapter Arts Centre, Cardiff on 1 December with Rhiannon Hooson and Rhian Edwards.

Crossings “Book of the Year” in The Irish Times

Martina Evans chose my book, Crossings: a journey through borders (Seren ) as one of her “Books of the Year” in The Irish Times, 3 December: “NicholasMurray unleashed his inner poet for his greatest nonfiction book, Crossings.  An examination of borders of all kinds – cultural, political, linguistic – it is particularly poignant when he approaches liminal borders such as old age.”  This follows an excellent review in The Tablet on 22 October 2016.

My Royal Literary Fund Podcast.

I talk about my biography of Aldous Huxley in a podcast on the Royal Literary Fund Website . I also have an article in the RLF “Collected” series, on political poetry, published on 15 August on the site.