Burning Eye Books – The Bell Bookshop

Wonderful

Emma — Tue, 07 May 2024 00:00:00 +0000

From the Sunday Times bestselling author and former World Poetry Slam Champion, Harry Baker’s third collection is his most ambitious yet. Following on from the success of Unashamed (Burning Eye, 2022), Harry Baker combines the insight of a mathematician and the vulnerability of the poet to find wonder in the little things that make life so precious. From a poem about wellies becoming an exploration of masculinity, a poem planning his own funeral inspiring thousands around the world to do the same, or a poem about his favourite German wheat-beer literally just being a poem about his favourite German wheat-beer, The combination of grief and joy in recent poems has led to Harry being described as the Barbenheimer of the poetry world (by himself, but he is hoping it catches on).

Unashamed

Emma — Thu, 20 Oct 2022 00:00:00 +0000

Unashamed follows the journey of the Sunday Times bestselling author and former World Poetry Slam Champion Harry Baker from graduating with a maths degree being unsure if this poetry thing was even possible, to becoming one of the nation’s favourite poets and having his work viewed by millions all over the globe.

A collection of poems taken from sold out shows combined with new work written at a time when that was no longer possible. From the joyful creativity of German compound words to having his prime number poetry shared on [TED.com][1], it took Harry far too long to realise that maths has been as much a part of his work as the poetry. That both are about figuring out the world around us, finding wonder in your surroundings, and searching for connection wherever you can.

From school bullying through climate change, via a healthy obsession with falafels and a 10,000th birthday, Harry's love of language and logic has got him through marathons, a cancer diagnosis and potentially ruined his wife’s chances of getting a job in an ice cream shop. Unashamed is a book of heart, humour and hope. It shows what happens when you’re truly able to celebrate all the parts of yourself.

[1]: http://ted.com/

The Sunshine Kid

Emma — Fri, 01 Aug 2014 00:00:00 +0000

When Harry Baker first started writing rap infused poetry he was advised to “write about what you know” so instead of writing about killing people, or driving fast cars (over people), he wrote about mathematics.

It is not all complex maths and algebra however but throughout Harry applies his mathematician’s mind to conjuring complex rhythms that have to be read out loud to be believed.