Broom, S., 2005. Contemporary British and Irish Poetry. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan.

An introduction to a range of poets and the themes in their work. Includes discussion of several contemporary female poets including Jackie Kay, Moniza Aliv, Carol Ann Duffy and Geraldine Monk.

Dowson, J. & Entwhistle, A., 2005. A History of Twentieth Century British Women’s Poetry. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

An excellent evaluative overview of women’s poetry that covers a range of themes including identity and postmodernism. This book contains a particularly useful chronology of women’s poetry and a detailed bibliography.

Jeffries, L. & Samson, P., 2000. Contemporary Poems: Some Critical Perspectives. Bath Press Ltd: Bath.

A collection of essays on major poets focusing specifically on close textual analysis of their work. Includes useful discussion of Carol Ann Duffy and Gillian Clark.

Mark, A. & Rees-Jones, D., 2000. Contemporary Women’s Poetry: Reading/Writing/Practice. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan.

A unique resource on women’s poetry, providing a historical overview and timeline of women’s poetry, and useful positioning of literary criticism.

Montefiore, J., 1994. Feminism and Poetry: Language, Experience, Identity in Women’s Writing. London: Pandora.

A feminist exploration of the way in which women’s poetry has been repeatedly sidelined in comparison to critical analysis of male poetry.