John Siddique (born July 25, 1964) is a British poet, essayist and author.
Contents |
Siddique was born to an Indian Muslim father and an Irish Catholic mother,[1] He has said in interviews that he regards his true countries of birth to be 'literature and language.'[2] The family struggled with poverty from which the young Siddique sought refuge in the world of books through his local library. Before becoming a writer he drifted through a troubled early adult life and various jobs such as being a roadie, a pipe-welder, and landscape gardener.[3] He first began writing in 1991 after discovering the poetry of ee cummings via the Woody Allen film 'Hannah and Her Sisters.'[4]
Poetry
Full Blood (SALT 2011)
Recital – An Almanac (SALT 2009)
Blackpool - A Poet’s View (Blackpool Council 2009)
Poems from a Northern Soul (Crocus 2007)
Transparency (as Editor) (Crocus 2006)
The Prize (Rialto 2005)
Short Stories
Four Fathers (Co-author) (ROUTE 2007)
For Children
Don’t Wear It On Your Head (SALT 2010)
Selected Anthologies
New Writing 15 (Granta)
The Fire People (Payback/Canongate)
Velocity (Apples & Snakes/Black Spring)
Masala (MacMillan)
Anthology of British South Asian Poetry (Redbeck)
RED (Peepal Tree)
Life Lines – Poets for Oxfam CD
Residencies
Manchester Literature Festival 2010
Los Angeles for The British Council 2009
Blackpool - Poet in Residence 2008
Manchester Art Gallery 2008
Fundacion Valparaiso 2006
The Rainer Charity, Wigan 2005
Commonword/BBC Manchester - Poet in Residence 2005
Ilkley Literature Festival - Poet in Residence 2004
HMYOI Wetherby - Writer in Residence 2000 – 03
Ledbury Poetry Festival - Writer in Residence for Young People 2000 – 03
The LOWRY - Poet in residence 2000 – 01
Prestwich NHS Trust - Poet in Residence 2000