Headless Poet is a poetry publisher and postal service specialising in the art of the introduction.

Our pamphlets give poets and writers space to (re)introduce readers to poets of the past, especially those whose work has been buried by time. We also publish short introductions to our pick of the best new poetry.

Each pamphlet runs to just thirty-something pages and comes in card covers. They should fit neatly in your coat or jacket pocket.

Headless Poet is edited, published, and posted from West Norwood (London, SE27) by Jeremy Wikeley. You’ll also find our pamphlets in the London Review Bookshop and the Poetry Library. If you are interested in stocking the series, or have any queries, please get in touch at jem@headlesspoet.com.

A note on heads

Headless Poet takes its name from this statue of Dante, which stands on the steps of the Crystal Palace in London. The palace burnt down in 1896. We don’t know exactly when Dante lost his head. It could equally have taken its name from Emily Dickinson: “If I feel physically as if the top of my head were taken off, I know that is poetry.”

Jeremy wrote an introduction to the project here.