Edited by James Persoon and Robert R. Watson,
The Facts on File Companion to British Poetry, 1900 to the Present (2009) presents 450 entries, introducing students to poets, themes, topics, movements, and individual poems. The editors state, "We felt as editors and teachers that part of our duty was to expand the horizons of our readers—and perhaps expand the usefulness of this companion—beyond what is currently the most commonly taught." This entailed:
- "a rescue mission of unfairly neglected poetry"
- including "emerging 21rst-century writers"
- broadening the companion "to include the world community of poets writing in English, minus the Americans" (page v).
A team of 150 international academics participated in the endeavor, resulting in a reference work secondary schools and universities should have on hand.
