ONE of Britain's leading poets will be in Abergavenny on Tuesday, September 30 to launch two new books.

Lee Harwood, who made his name on the alternative poetry scene, will launch the new works at the Hen and Chickens in the latest poetry event organised by Ric Hool.

The evening will be opened by Chris Hall, a notable poet living in Abergavenny, who will be reading new work along with some from his website - http://www.woodenheadarts.com">www.woodenheadarts.com.

Lee Harwood, with 20 or more volumes of poems and prose poems to his name, is praised by national critics for his direct voice and "open, moving and exquisite delicate attention to landscape, mood and the pressures of time and history" (The Guardian).

He is the least academic of poets who is disarming and penetrating at the same time - full of expressive energy and "felt in the blood, and felt along the heart." The Times Literary Supplement describes him as "unique in British poetry."

The evening starts at 8pm and is supported by Academi and The Collective Press. Tickets costing £5 are only available at the door.