{"title":"Lemn Sissay","description":null,"products":[{"product_id":"lemn-sissay-5-books-collection-set-non-fiction-mixed-format","title":"Lemn Sissay 5 Books Collection Set - Poetry \u0026 Memoir - Non Fiction - Mixed Format","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTitles in This Set\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eLet the Light Pour In\u003cbr\u003eMy Name Is Why\u003cbr\u003eGold from the Stone\u003cbr\u003eListener\u003cbr\u003eRebel Without Applause\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDetails\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eCondition: Brand New\u003cbr\u003eFormat: Mixed Format (Hardcover and Paperback)\u003cbr\u003e(Let the Light Pour In), 9781786892362 (My Name Is Why), 9781782119456 (Gold from the Stone), 9781841958958 (Listener), 9781841950013 (Rebel Without Applause)\u003cbr\u003ePublisher: Canongate Books\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOverview\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThis five-book collection gathers Lemn Sissay's celebrated poetry alongside his acclaimed memoir, offering a rounded portrait of a distinctive literary voice shaped by hardship and resilience. From the luminous verses of Let the Light Pour In to the searing honesty of My Name Is Why, the set moves between lyric introspection and hard-won memoir. Gold from the Stone showcases decades of selected poems, while Listener and Rebel Without Applause reveal the early urgency that shaped his career, making this a fitting gift for poetry lovers and memoir readers alike.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAbout the Books\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eLemn Sissay's five-book collection draws together the poetry and memoir that established him as one of Britain's most compelling literary figures, a former Young People's Laureate for London and Chancellor of the University of Manchester. Let the Light Pour In collects poems Sissay began sharing daily each morning, life-affirming verses that find warmth even in difficult moments, and the collection has become one of his most widely loved works of recent years. My Name Is Why is his memoir of growing up in the British foster care system, an honest account of a childhood in institutional care before he discovered, as a teenager, the truth of his own name and origins, told with clarity and warmth throughout. Gold from the Stone brings together a broad selection of poems spanning much of his career, tracing his development from a young performance poet into a mature, widely admired writer whose voice helped shape contemporary British poetry. Listener is an earlier collection blending personal reflection with social observation and a distinctive rhythmic voice, threading city life through verse. Rebel Without Applause, one of his first published works, carries the raw, street-inflected energy that first brought his poetry to public attention. Read together, the five books offer a fuller picture of a writer whose work moves fluidly between the page and the stage, and whose life story continues to resonate widely.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eKey Benefits\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFive acclaimed titles from a major British poet in one set\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBlends powerful memoir with lyrical, life-affirming poetry\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eGreat gift for poetry lovers and memoir readers\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIdeal for a home library or discovering Sissay for the first time\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSpans early and later works for a full career picture\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBrand new condition, ready to gift or keep\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBook-by-Book Guide\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eLet the Light Pour In — Morning poems written and shared daily, radiating warmth, resilience, and quiet joy.\u003cbr\u003eMy Name Is Why — A raw memoir tracing Sissay's childhood in foster care and his search for his name.\u003cbr\u003eGold from the Stone — Selected poems charting Sissay's growth from young performer to celebrated writer.\u003cbr\u003eListener — An earlier collection blending reflection and social observation with a rhythmic voice.\u003cbr\u003eRebel Without Applause — Early poetry carrying the raw, street-inflected energy that announced his talent.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eLemn Sissay is a British poet, playwright, and broadcaster, born in Lancashire and raised in the foster care system before beginning his career as a performance poet in Manchester in the 1980s. He has since published multiple acclaimed poetry collections and a memoir, with work spanning stage, radio, and public art installations across the UK. He served as Chancellor of the University of Manchester and held the role of Young People's Laureate for London. Known for a direct, warm voice shaped by lived experience, Sissay is one of Britain's most recognizable poets.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhy You'll Love This Collection\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThis collection pairs searing memoir with lyrical, life-affirming poetry, making it a meaningful gift for birthdays, the holiday season, or anyone building a thoughtful home library. Fans of British poetry and honest memoir will find plenty to treasure, and the five-book set offers lasting value for repeat reading and gifting.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003ePlease Note: This is the UK edition with the ISBN as listed; the cover may vary slightly from the image shown.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Lemn Sissay","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":56889573572982,"sku":"MAN-VRT-U29-9789124341466","price":39.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0575\/6587\/2211\/files\/lemn-sissay-5-books-collection-set-mixed-format.jpg?v=1785482737"},{"product_id":"lemn-sissay-4-books-collection-set-my-name-is-why-gold-from-the-stone-listener-rebel-without-applause-paperback-lemn-sissay","title":"Lemn Sissay 4 Books Collection Set - Non Fiction - Paperback","description":"\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTitles in This Set:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\nMy Name Is Why\u003cbr\u003e\nGold from the Stone\u003cbr\u003e\nListener\u003cbr\u003e\nRebel Without Applause\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFormat:\u003c\/strong\u003e Paperback\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOverview:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\nThis four-book collection gathers Lemn Sissay’s most influential works into a cohesive, thought‑provoking set that traverses memoir and lyric poetry with fearless honesty. My Name Is Why revisits a life shaped by foster care and care homes, revealing a son’s journey to own his true name and origin while exploring belonging, memory, and maternal longing. Gold from the Stone showcases Sissay’s early poetic voice—raw, vivid, and socially charged—hand‑sold to workers in industrial towns, a testament to poetry that speaks from the margins to a broad audience. Listener encaptures the lush, musical cadence of Sissay’s verse, weaving themes of love, history, and everyday wonder into a tapestry that feels intimate and expansive at once. Rebel Without Applause closes the circle: a bold collection that helped launch his enduring public voice, anchored in urban terrain and lived experience. Together, these titles illuminate a singular, unflinching creative mind and offer readers a rich arc from personal history to universal insight. This paperback set is ideal for poetry lovers, memoir enthusiasts, and anyone drawn to voices that illuminate resilience and identity. \u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat This Collection Covers:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\nAcross the four volumes you’ll trace a distinctive trajectory from personal memoir to poetically charged social commentary. My Name Is Why anchors the set in the power of naming, kinship, and the legal and emotional challenges of discovering one’s origins. Gold from the Stone collects a teenage poet’s bold, doorway‑opening experiments with language, capturing the energy of industrial England and the emergence of a poetic conscience. Listener expands the sonic range, pairing tenderness with wit and landscapes of urban life, history, and sensation—inviting readers to hear the world with fresh, generous ears. Rebel Without Applause lands the set firmly in place of social realism and performance poetry, showing how a young writer’s words can travel from street corners to public spaces and beyond. The collection invites readers to reflect on community, identity, exile, and the stubborn hope that art can make sense of chaos. It’s a complete reading journey from memory to living language. \u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBook-by-Book Guide:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMy Name Is Why\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\nThis memoir unlocks the moment a son learns his true birth name and traces a life built in the shadows of foster care toward a strong, articulate sense of self. It is a profound examination of identity, kinship, and longing, where memory becomes a form of resistance and resilience. Sissay writes with unflinching clarity about the ache of separation and the tenacity required to claim one’s place in the world. The narrative voice is intimate yet expansive, inviting readers to witness a journey from confusion to self‑definition, all while maintaining warmth, humor, and a stubborn optimism. A powerful meditation on family, heritage, and the spoken word’s capacity to heal, this memoir is a cornerstone of the collection that rewards careful, reflective reading. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eGold from the Stone\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\nWritten when he was seventeen, this debut poetry collection launched Sissay’s enduring voice into public consciousness. The poems pulse with the grit and dignity of ordinary lives—miners, millworkers, and people who shape the texture of a city. The language is precise, musical, and fearless, blending social observation with personal confession. The collection demonstrates how poetry can be both political and intimate, a craft honed for performance and deeply rooted in real places and real people. It’s a candid exploration of ambition, craft, and the stubborn brightness of a young poet determined to be heard. Readers will feel the energy of discovery and the thrill of a new poetic horizon opening before them. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eListener\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\nListener overflows with love poems, inner‑city soap operas, reflections on history, mystery and felicity. The collection surveys affection, desire, and the everyday theater of human connection, all delivered in Sissay’s signature voice—visionary, buoyant, and unapologetically alive. The poems move with cinematic pace, balancing sharp observation with warmth and wit. This volume invites readers to listen closely—to voices of family, community, and memory—and to find solace and revelation within the cadence of verse. It’s a celebration of language’s power to illuminate hidden corners of urban life and private emotion alike. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eRebel Without Applause\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\nRebel Without Applause is where Sissay’s street‑level realism meets lyric bravado. Poems rooted in Manchester streets—on walls, in shared spaces, on a central London bus route—showcase a writer who speaks truth to power with rhythm and clarity. This collection helped propel his career, establishing a fearless public presence and a willingness to engage with social issues through art. The poetry is both tactile and political, accessible yet intricate, inviting readers to experience a music of identity, rebellion, and hopeful resistance. It’s a landmark volume that captures the spark of a poet who refuses to be confined by walls or labels. \u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWho This Set Is Perfect For:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\nThis quartet is ideal for adult readers and serious poetry appreciators seeking a cohesive look at a major contemporary voice. It’s perfect for students and teachers exploring memoir, urban poetry, and the relationship between personal history and social context. Gift buyers will find a thoughtful, substantial present for fans of contemporary British poetry, performance poetry, and literary memoirs. Readers interested in themes of identity, resilience, belonging, and cultural heritage will find this collection deeply rewarding. The set also serves as an excellent entry point for newcomers to Lemn Sissay, offering a broad spectrum of his craft—from intimate memoir to dynamic, publicly engaged verse. Whether for personal growth, classroom discussion, or a gift that sparks meaningful conversations, this collection delivers. \u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eKey Benefits:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e \u003cli\u003eComprehensive introduction to Lemn Sissay’s work in one accessible paperback collection\u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003eJuxtaposes memoir with powerful lyric poetry for a balanced reading experience\u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003eStrong themes of identity, resilience, and social life that invite reflection and discussion\u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003eIdeal for gifting to poetry lovers, students, and readers exploring modern British literature\u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003eDiverse tonal range—from intimate, reflective pieces to bold, street‑level verse\u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003eDurable paperback editions suitable for long‑term reading and study\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAbout the Author:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\nLemn Sissay is a celebrated British‑Ethiopian poet, writer, and performer whose work spans memoir, poetry, and theatre. Known for a lucid, invigorating voice and a fearless willingness to address identity, belonging, and social issues, his writing resonates with readers around the world. This collection showcases his distinctive blend of honesty, warmth, and social insight, revealing a writer capable of both intimate confession and expansive cultural vision. Sissay’s work invites readers to listen closely—to memory, to place, and to the people who shape who we become. Through these four volumes, he demonstrates how language can illuminate the complexity of life while remaining accessible, inviting, and deeply human. \u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhy You’ll Love This Set:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\nA transformative reading experience, this four‑book collection offers a vivid arc from personal history to public voice. Owning the complete set provides a deeper understanding of Sissay’s artistry and the social worlds that inform his work. It’s an excellent addition to any poetry shelf, a meaningful gift for readers who value authenticity and courage, and a compelling resource for discussions on identity, resilience, and community. The set rewards repeated reading, with language that reveals new textures and rhythms each time you return to it.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePlease Note:\u003c\/strong\u003e The individual books included in this listing will be dispatched as per the original UK ISBN and UK edition cover image shown in the image.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Lemn Sissay","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":57171771130230,"sku":"MAN-9789123933792","price":30.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0575\/6587\/2211\/files\/61rmblDhZ5L.jpg?v=1769696716"}],"url":"https:\/\/skymartbooks.com\/collections\/lemn-sissay.oembed","provider":"Skymart Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}