One of the subjects of the poems is undoubtedly time, and time is, undoubtedly, one of the subjects of my fiction. Fifty years is quite a serious chunk of time, and I hope this book of poems will stand the test of time, along with all my other books.

Best known as a writer of fiction, Graham Swift's novels have received accolades and awards for over half a century. As well as being one of our greatest novelists, Swift is also a masterful poet. Now, for the first time, a selection of his poems has been collected in a single volume to celebrate his 50 years as a published writer. Like his prose, his poetry is deft, humane and understatedly powerful ? a true testament to a lifetime spent in pursuit of literary excellence.