Long-awaited win for Scottish poet

Burnside appeared at the Edinburgh International Book Festival in August this year when he gave his first ever live reading from Black Cat Bone before a delighted audience. He later explained to the Guardian that the collection is about romance, the darker side of relationships and the institutionalisation of emotion.

Chair of the judging panel and former Poet Laureate Andrew Motion described Black Cat Bone as being a book ‘to linger over, as well as one to enjoy at first reading" adding that  "it is a distinguished winner of the Forward Prize".

The Forward Poetry Prizes were established in order to bring contemporary poetry to the attention of the public. For the last twenty years they have rewarded both established and up-and-coming UK poets.

Other award winners this year include the late R F Langley, who won the prize for Best Single Poem for To a Nightingale, and Rachael Boast who won Best First Collection with her debut Sidereal. Rachael also appeared at this year’s Book Festival.

The winners were announced at a ceremony in London yesterday night, the eve of National Poetry Day.