The Door-to-Door Poet

Writing rhymes for strangers on any subject they choose--as featured on BBC Radio 4 Convinced that poetry isn't a "proper job," Rowan McCabe decided to make it one--by becoming the world's first door-to-door poet. Knocking on strangers' doors, he asked what mattered most to them, then wrote and delivered a personalized poem, free of charge, right to their doorstep. Defying the advice of friends--and a local police officer--Rowan began on the Byker Wall estate in Newcastle upon Tyne. No one punched him in the face. Encouraged, he set out on a journey across England, visiting Moss Side in Manchester, Jaywick in Essex, the island of Lundy, and even Buckingham Palace. ​The Door-to-Door Poet is Rowan's funny, uplifting account of that adventure. Through heartfelt encounters and spontaneous verse, he shines a light on English life and the stories that connect us all. Written with the observational humor of Bill Bryson and the curiosity of Louis Theroux, this is a warm, charming portrait of modern England--told one doorstep at a time.