Luke Kennard

Biography

Luke Kennard is an award-winning poet and novelist. His literary criticism has appeared in the London Review of Books, Poetry London, and Times Literary Supplement. He has a PhD in English from the University of Exeter and lectures in Creative Writing at the University of Birmingham. 

In 2014 he was named one of the ‘Next Generation Poets’ by the Poetry Book Society in their once-per-decade list. 

His poetry collection, Cain, was shortlisted for the International Dylan Thomas Prize and described by Alan Hollinghurst as ‘the cleverest and funniest thing I’ve read this year’. 

His collection of poetry, Notes on the Sonnets, an anarchic response to Shakespeare’s sonnets, won the Forward prize for Best Poetry Collection in 2021.  His most recent poetry collection, The Book of Jonah, was published by Picador in 2025.

His first novel, The Transition (2018, 4th Estate), was BBC Radio 4 Book at Bedtime and was longlisted for the Desmond Elliott Prize. His second novel is The Answer to Everything (2021, 4th Estate).  Black Bag, his third novel, was published by John Murray in 2026 and was longlisted for the Booker Prize the same year. 

Bluesky: @lukekennard.bsky.social 

Books in order of publication:

The Solex Brothers (poetry) (2005)

The Harbour Beyond the Movie (poetry) (2007)

The Migrane Hotel (poetry) (2009)

Planet Shaped Horse (poem-play) (2011)

The Necropolis Boat (poetry) (2012)

A Lost Expression (poetry) (2012)

Holophin (novella) (2012)

Cain (poetry) (2016)

The Transition (2017)

The Answer to Everything (2021)

Notes on the Sonnets (poetry) (2021)

The Book of Jonah (poetry) (2025)

Black Bag (2026)