Opening Line is a poetry anthology built on the principle that access to the arts should not be a privilege. Published by Broken Sleep Books, a working-class indie press, this collection dismantles economic barriers that too often limit audiences from engaging with contemporary poetry. Bringing together an impressive range of voices-including established and emerging poets-this anthology is a testament to the power of affordability in reshaping literary landscapes. By prioritizing inclusivity over exclusivity, Opening Line challenges the notion that poetry must be expensive to be valuable, making space for a wider, more diverse readership.
About the author
Aaron Kent is a working-class poet, publisher, and stroke survivor from Cornwall. He is the founder of Broken Sleep Books, an independent press recognised with the Michael Marks Publishing Award. His poetry has been translated into multiple languages, including French, Hungarian, German, Welsh, and Cornish. In 2020, he was awarded the Awen Medal from the Bards of Cornwall. His second poetry collection, ‘The Working Classic, ‘ was published in 2023 by the87press. Kent’s work has been featured in various journals including The Poetry Review, Poetry London, and The Rialto, and he has read his poetry for organizations such as the BBC and the Stroke Association. He is also an Arvon tutor, dedicated to supporting emerging writers.