Description
Often accused of thinking too much, feeling too deeply, and saying the wrong thing at exactly the right time, John Siddique’s quiet arrival with his Forward Prize-nominated collection, The Prize, marked a bold ‘hell yes’ to it all.
It also signalled the beginning of a literary journey rooted in humanity, truth, and a relentless curiosity about the unseen and unheard.
In this wide-ranging and intimate conversation, Siddique sits down with poet Jo Bell to explore the lasting resonance of The Prize and the personal and cultural ripples that continue to radiate from this brave, perception-shifting collection of poems.
About the Poet

John Siddique
John Siddique is the author of Signposts of The Spiritual Journey, a book on accessing greater authenticity and meaning in our lives and ‘So’ (Collected New Poems 2011-21) and seven other books. His poetry collection Don’t Wear It on Your Head is a perennial favourite with younger readers.
His work has been featured in Time, Women and Home, The Tablet, Granta, the Guardian, Poetry Review, the Rialto and on BBC Radio 3 and 4. Besides his books and writing life, John is a hugely popular meditation teacher. He is the creator of two online courses, ‘Self-Acceptance Through Authenticity’ and ‘Magical Moments’, and his online meditations have had over two million downloads.
About the Chair

Jo Bell
Jo Bell is a poet and writer based in Macclesfield. Formerly a professional archaeologist, she is the author of two poetry collections and co-author of How To Be A Poet, has been frequently featured on BBC radio, and was director of National Poetry Day in the UK.
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