Staff profile

I completed my PhD on Barry MacSweeney's poetry at Newcastle University in 2009. After that I worked for several years as a freelance writer, reviewing poetry and biography for various newspapers (selected reviews are listed below), and as a tutor for the Arvon Foundation and the Poetry School. I am currently Director of Creative Writing at Durham University. My research interests lie primarily in twentieth- and twenty-first century poetry from the U.K., Ireland, and the U.S. My current research is concerned with the film and TV work of David Lynch.

My first pamphlet of poetry was To Photograph a Snow Crystal (Smith/Doorstop, 2005), and my first full-length book was The Sinking Road (Bloodaxe, 2008). I have also published a chapbook of poems, The Love Darg (Clutag, 2014). My poems and translations have appeared in several anthologies and in newspapers and magazines such as The Guardian, The London Review of Books, Poetry, Poetry Review, The Rialto, The Times and The Times Literary Supplement. I can be heard reading my poems on the Poetry Archive. I edited a volume of essays, Reading Barry MacSweeney (Bloodaxe, 2013).

• 2018: Editors’ Prize for Reviewing: from the Poetry Foundation of America
• 2016: Judge for the Michael Marks Poetry Pamphlet Awards:
• 2016: Judge for the Seamus Heaney Centre for Poetry Prize:
• 2015: External Examiner for Creative Writing BA and MA programmes: University of Aberdeen.
• 2014: External Examiner for Creative Writing BA and MA programmes: University of Manchester.
• 2011: Arthur Welton Award: from the Arthur Welton Foundation and the Authors’ Foundation.
• 2010: Arts Council Bursary:
• 2009: Edwin Morgan International Poetry Competition:
• 2009: The Times Stephen Spender Prize for Translation:
• 2009: Judge for the Basil Bunting Poetry Competition:
• 2009: Writer of the Year: Journal Culture Awards.
• 2008: Glen Dimplex Best First Collection Prize: shortlist.
• 2008: Jerwood-Aldeburgh Best First Collection Prize: shortlist.
• 2005: Poetry Business Prize: judged by Simon Armitage.
• 2004: Andrew Waterhouse Award: from New Writing North.
• 2004: AHRC Doctoral Award (3 years): Newcastle University
• 2003: Eric Gregory Award: from the Society of Authors.

Authored book

• The Love Darg
  
  Batchelor, P. (2014). The Love Darg. Clutag Press.
• The Sinking Road
  
  Batchelor, P. (2008). The Sinking Road. Bloodaxe.

Chapter in book

• “Forever in Excess”: Barry MacSweeney, Consumerism, and Popular Culture
  
  Batchelor, P. (2020). “Forever in Excess”: Barry MacSweeney, Consumerism, and Popular Culture. In W. Görtschacher & D. Malcolm (Eds.), A Companion to Contemporary British and Irish Poetry, 1960-2010. (pp. 535-548). Wiley.
• The Great Divide? Post-Confessional and Language Poetry.
  
  Batchelor, P. (2017). The Great Divide? Post-Confessional and Language Poetry. In E. Spencer-Regan (Ed.), American Poetry Since 1945. (pp. 151-168). Palgrave MacMillan. https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-137-32447-4_9
• False Fathers, Desperate Readers, and the Prince of Sparty Lea.
  
  Batchelor, P. (2013). False Fathers, Desperate Readers, and the Prince of Sparty Lea. In P. Batchelor (Ed.), Reading Barry MacSweeney (pp. 107-130). Bloodaxe Books.

Edited book

• Reading Barry MacSweeney
  
  Batchelor, P. (Ed.). (2013). Reading Barry MacSweeney. Bloodaxe Books.

Newspaper/Magazine Article

• On Barry MacSweeney’s Unselected Poems
  
  Batchelor, P. (2019). On Barry MacSweeney’s Unselected Poems. The Times Literary Supplement, 12-13.
• Safe from Devaluation (on Jay Bernard, Polly Clark, John Greening, Fiona Moore, Jocelyn Page, Camille Ralphs, Peter Riley, Richard Scott, Lizzi Thistlethwayte, Gregory Woods)
  
  Batchelor, P. (2016). Safe from Devaluation (on Jay Bernard, Polly Clark, John Greening, Fiona Moore, Jocelyn Page, Camille Ralphs, Peter Riley, Richard Scott, Lizzi Thistlethwayte, Gregory Woods). The Times Literary Supplement.
• Follow the Clue (on Richard Burton and Basil Bunting)
  
  Batchelor, P. (2014). Follow the Clue (on Richard Burton and Basil Bunting). The Times Literary Supplement, 3-4.
• Voice from Tiananmen (on Liu Xiaobo)
  
  Batchelor, P. (2012). Voice from Tiananmen (on Liu Xiaobo). The Guardian.
• In the Swim of Life (on Christy Ducker, Emily Hasler, A.B. Jackson, Jane McKie, Tony Williams, Matthew Welton)
  
  Batchelor, P. (2012). In the Swim of Life (on Christy Ducker, Emily Hasler, A.B. Jackson, Jane McKie, Tony Williams, Matthew Welton). The Guardian.
• Greetings to the Solitary (on Robert Fraser and David Gascoyne)
  
  Batchelor, P. (2012). Greetings to the Solitary (on Robert Fraser and David Gascoyne). The Times Literary Supplement, 7-8.
• The Glass Overflows (on Peter Redgrove)
  
  Batchelor, P. (2012). The Glass Overflows (on Peter Redgrove). The Guardian.
• Boxing and Buns (on T.S. Eliot)
  
  Batchelor, P. (2012). Boxing and Buns (on T.S. Eliot). The Guardian.
• The Alien at the Window (on Jamie McKendrick)
  
  Batchelor, P. (2012). The Alien at the Window (on Jamie McKendrick). The Guardian.
• Pain and Labour (on F.T. Prince)
  
  Batchelor, P. (2012). Pain and Labour (on F.T. Prince). The Guardian.
• Geoffrey Hill's Measured Words
  
  Batchelor, P. (2012). Geoffrey Hill’s Measured Words. The Times Literary Supplement, 12-13.
• Monument to Posterity (on William Wordsworth)
  
  Batchelor, P. (2012). Monument to Posterity (on William Wordsworth). The Guardian.
• Farmers Cross (on Bernard O'Donoghue)
  
  Batchelor, P. (2011). Farmers Cross (on Bernard O’Donoghue). The Guardian.
• Where the World Ships Landed Poverty (on Les Murray)
  
  Batchelor, P. (2011). Where the World Ships Landed Poverty (on Les Murray). The Guardian.
• Songs of Love and Politics (on Sorley MacLean)
  
  Batchelor, P. (2011). Songs of Love and Politics (on Sorley MacLean). The Guardian.
• Peter Reading's Last Collection
  
  Batchelor, P. (2011). Peter Reading’s Last Collection. The Times Literary Supplement.
• Not Even a Couch (on C.K. Williams)
  
  Batchelor, P. (2011). Not Even a Couch (on C.K. Williams). The Times Literary Supplement.
• Lobe Scarps & Finials (on Geraldine Monk)
  
  Batchelor, P. (2011). Lobe Scarps & Finials (on Geraldine Monk). The Guardian.
• Red House (on Sasha Dugdale)
  
  Batchelor, P. (2011). Red House (on Sasha Dugdale). The Guardian.
• Moments Outside History (on Sean O'Brien)
  
  Batchelor, P. (2011). Moments Outside History (on Sean O’Brien). The Guardian.
• Root and Branch (on Tomas Transtromer)
  
  Batchelor, P. (2011). Root and Branch (on Tomas Transtromer). The Guardian.
• Sweet Home (on John Burnside)
  
  Batchelor, P. (2011). Sweet Home (on John Burnside). The Times Literary Supplement.
• A Cure for Woodness (on Michael Haslam)
  
  Batchelor, P. (2010). A Cure for Woodness (on Michael Haslam). The Guardian.
• Private Communication (on Roy Fisher)
  
  Batchelor, P. (2010). Private Communication (on Roy Fisher). The Guardian.
• On the Trains (on Patrick McGuinness)
  
  Batchelor, P. (2010). On the Trains (on Patrick McGuinness). The Times Literary Supplement.
• How Snow Falls (on Craig Raine)
  
  Batchelor, P. (2010). How Snow Falls (on Craig Raine). The Times.
• Cities of Struggle (on Jo Shapcott and Elaine Feinstein)
  
  Batchelor, P. (2010). Cities of Struggle (on Jo Shapcott and Elaine Feinstein). The Times.
• This Must Be Happiness (on Edwin Morgan)
  
  Batchelor, P. (2010). This Must Be Happiness (on Edwin Morgan). The Guardian.
• Master of Trivia (on Derek Mahon)
  
  Batchelor, P. (2010). Master of Trivia (on Derek Mahon). The Guardian.
• Old Times, New Realities (on Seamus Heaney)
  
  Batchelor, P. (2010). Old Times, New Realities (on Seamus Heaney). The Times.
• Whale Under Canvas (on Simon Armitage)
  
  Batchelor, P. (2010). Whale Under Canvas (on Simon Armitage). The Guardian.
• A Thunder of Blood (on Sinéad Morrissey)
  
  Batchelor, P. (2010). A Thunder of Blood (on Sinéad Morrissey). The Guardian.
• On Rainer Maria Rilke's The Notebooks of Malte Laurids Brigge
  
  Batchelor, P. (2009). On Rainer Maria Rilke’s The Notebooks of Malte Laurids Brigge. The Times.
• The Right to 'Speak Proper' (on Tom Leonard)
  
  Batchelor, P. (2009). The Right to ’Speak Proper’ (on Tom Leonard). The Guardian.
• On Edmund White's biography of Rimbaud
  
  Batchelor, P. (2009). On Edmund White’s biography of Rimbaud. The Times.
• How to Hum Along with the Greats (interview with Seamus Heaney)
  
  Batchelor, P. (2009). How to Hum Along with the Greats (interview with Seamus Heaney). The Times.
• Scotland’s Best-Loved Poet (interview with Edwin Morgan)
  
  Batchelor, P. (2009). Scotland’s Best-Loved Poet (interview with Edwin Morgan). The Times.
• On David Constantine, Jane Draycott, Pauline Stainer, Carrie Etter
  
  Batchelor, P. (2009). On David Constantine, Jane Draycott, Pauline Stainer, Carrie Etter. The Times.
• Return of the Native (on Basil Bunting)
  
  Batchelor, P. (2009). Return of the Native (on Basil Bunting). The Guardian.
• On Patience Agbabi, Mick Imlah, Jorie Graham
  
  Batchelor, P. (2008). On Patience Agbabi, Mick Imlah, Jorie Graham. The Times.

Other (Print)

• Modern Poetry's Sentimentality Problem (on Niall Campbell and Frederick Seidel)
  
  Batchelor, P. (2019). Modern Poetry’s Sentimentality Problem (on Niall Campbell and Frederick Seidel). The New Statesman.
• Heidegger's Hammer (on Nuar Alsadir and Ahren Warner)
  
  Batchelor, P. (2018). Heidegger’s Hammer (on Nuar Alsadir and Ahren Warner). The New Statesman.
• Loaded with Ore (on Leontia Flynn and Ishion Hutchinson)
  
  Batchelor, P. (2018). Loaded with Ore (on Leontia Flynn and Ishion Hutchinson). The New Statesman.
• Weight of the Word, Weight of the World (on Geoffrey Hill)
  
  Batchelor, P. (2018). Weight of the Word, Weight of the World (on Geoffrey Hill). Poetry.
• Forms and functions (on Danez Smith and Hannah Sullivan)
  
  Batchelor, P. (2018). Forms and functions (on Danez Smith and Hannah Sullivan). The New Statesman.
• Raising a Cain (on Emily Berry, Luke Kennard, and Jacob Polley)
  
  Batchelor, P. (2017). Raising a Cain (on Emily Berry, Luke Kennard, and Jacob Polley) (pp. 46-47). The New Statesman.
• Burden of Proof (on Tara Bergin, Nick Makoha, and Stephen Romer)
  
  Batchelor, P. (2017). Burden of Proof (on Tara Bergin, Nick Makoha, and Stephen Romer). The New Statesman.
• Where It Hurts (on Colette Bryce, Adam O'Riordan, Ocean Vuong)
  
  Batchelor, P. (2017). Where It Hurts (on Colette Bryce, Adam O’Riordan, Ocean Vuong). The New Statesman.
• Echoes and Answers (on Basil Bunting)
  
  Batchelor, P. (2016). Echoes and Answers (on Basil Bunting). Poetry Review.
• Hide and Seek (on Liz Berry, Vona Groarke, and Rowan Williams)
  
  Batchelor, P. (2015). Hide and Seek (on Liz Berry, Vona Groarke, and Rowan Williams) (pp. 42-43). The New Statesman.
• Praise Songs (on Louise Gluck and Peter Fallon)
  
  Batchelor, P. (2015). Praise Songs (on Louise Gluck and Peter Fallon) (pp. 76-79). Poetry Ireland Review.
• How Perilous Is It To Choose? (on Seamus Heaney)
  
  Batchelor, P. (2014). How Perilous Is It To Choose? (on Seamus Heaney) (pp. 50-53). Poetry Ireland Review.
• Style Over Substance (on Ruth Padel, David Harsent, and Michael Longley)
  
  Batchelor, P. (2014). Style Over Substance (on Ruth Padel, David Harsent, and Michael Longley). The New Statesman.
• Robin Robertson, Sailing the Forest: Selected Poems
  
  Batchelor, P. (2014). Robin Robertson, Sailing the Forest: Selected Poems (pp. 278-286). Tower Poetry Reviews 2004-2014.
• Spelling It Out (on Billy Collins and August Kleinzahler)
  
  Batchelor, P. (2013). Spelling It Out (on Billy Collins and August Kleinzahler). The New Statesman.
• On Martin Espada, Durs Grunbein, Mervyn Morris, Togara Muzanenhamo
  
  Batchelor, P. (2007). On Martin Espada, Durs Grunbein, Mervyn Morris, Togara Muzanenhamo. Poetry Review.
• On Penelope Shuttle
  
  Batchelor, P. (2006). On Penelope Shuttle. Poetry Review.
• On Lorna Goodison, Philip Levine, Dunya Mikhail
  
  Batchelor, P. (2006). On Lorna Goodison, Philip Levine, Dunya Mikhail. Poetry Review.
• Inside from the Start (on Ken Smith)
  
  Batchelor, P. (2004). Inside from the Start (on Ken Smith). Poetry Review.
• On Barry MacSweeney
  
  Batchelor, P. (2003). On Barry MacSweeney. Poetry Review.
• On Barry MacSweeney and Guillaume Apollinaire
  
  Batchelor, P. (2003). On Barry MacSweeney and Guillaume Apollinaire (pp. 131-136). Modern Poetry in Translation.