Titles in This Set:
My Name Is Why [Hardcover]
Gold from the Stone
Condition: BRAND NEW
Format: Mixed lot
Overview:
Two seminal works by Lemn Sissay are united in this powerful collection, inviting readers to step into a world where memory, voice, and resilience collide with lyrical intensity. My Name Is Why is the brave, unflinching memoir of a boy who grows up first in foster care and then in care homes, until at seventeen he learns his birth nameand his family’s historyredefining who he is and what he can become. Gold from the Stone collects Sissays early poetry, written as a teenager and later celebrated for its raw energy, social awareness, and musical cadence. This two-book hardcover set offers a cohesive reading journey: a transformative memoir paired with early-poetry brilliance that reveals the roots of a voice now recognised as one of Britains most distinct and influential. Perfect for fans of contemporary memoir, modern poetry, and readers seeking authentic, courageous storytelling in one premium collection.
What Makes This Collection Special:
This Lemn Sissay collection marries intimate truth with explosive poetic electricity, highlighting two different facets of a remarkable career. The memoir invites empathy and reflection, while the poetry volume showcases the raw, formative voice that would shape his later, award-winning work. Together, they provide a fulsome portrait of identity, belonging, and self-determinationfrom the ache of displacement to the spark of creative resilience. The set is a compelling gift for readers who crave meaningful narratives and for collectors who value a complete, thoughtfully curated pairing. With durable hardcover editions, this is not just a reading experienceits a display-worthy addition to any bookshelf, ready to be revisited, discussed, and shared across generations.
Books Included in This Collection:
My Name Is Why [Hardcover]
My Name Is Why is a groundbreaking memoir that chronicles Lemn Sissays journey from a life spent in foster care to the discovery of his true name and heritage. The narrative unfolds with unflinching honesty, warmth, and a fierce sense of identity, offering readers an intimate portrait of resilience, belonging, and the power of memory. Sissays clear, compelling voice guides you through formative years shaped by longing and search for kinship, culminating in a revelation that reframes the past and empowers the future. A landmark work for readers exploring autobiographical writing, social history, and the human capacity to transform adversity into art.
Gold from the Stone
Gold from the Stone gathers Lemn Sissays early poems, written as a teenager and later heralded for their vitality and social vision. He was seventeen when he wrote his first poetry book, which he hand-sold to the miners and millworkers of Wigan. Since then his poems have become landmarks, sculpted in granite and built from concrete, recorded on era-defining albums and declaimed in over thirty countries. This collection captures the raw energy, rhythmic inventiveness, and candid social conscience that launched a luminous career, offering readers a vivid window into a poets coming-of-age and his enduring quest to voice the truth of his experiences.
Who This Set Is Perfect For:
This set is ideal for adults and young adults who value authentic storytelling and bold verse. It speaks to readers exploring identity, foster care, and social justice, as well as poetry lovers seeking early-voice brilliance. teachers and students studying memoir and contemporary poetry will find it especially rewarding for classroom discussion and literary analysis. Gift buyers will appreciate the dual-genre appealmemoir for empathy and poetry for craftmaking it a thoughtful, enduring present for graduates, new readers, or anyone building a personal library that communicates resilience and hope.
Key Benefits:
- Dual-genre showcase: a moving memoir paired with vibrant early poetry in one premium collection
- Clear, authentic voice that enhances empathy and understanding of identity and belonging
- Durable hardcover format ideal for gifting, display, and long-term library use
- Perfect for book clubs and classroom discussions on memory, resilience, and creativity
- Strong social and cultural relevance with a timeless, wall-to-wall human story
- Great for fans of contemporary British literature and BookTok favourites looking for depth
- One-stop complete set for collectors seeking a cohesive Lemn Sissay reading experience
About the Author:
Lemn Sissay is a renowned British author, poet and performer whose work spans memoir, poetry, and theatre. His writing is celebrated for its lucid, powerful voice, fearless honesty, and social insight, often addressing themes of identity, childhood, and resilience. My Name Is Why, his widely acclaimed memoir, invites readers into a personal history shaped by foster care and self-discovery, while Gold from the Stone showcases the early, energetic artistry that would define his later career. Sissays work has resonated across stages and pages worldwide, earning him critical acclaim and a lasting place in contemporary UK literature. As a living, evolving voice, he continues to inspire readers with storytelling that is both intimate and expansive, inviting dialogue and reflection.
Why Youll Love This Set:
Owning the Lemn Sissay Collection 2 Books Set gives you a powerful, unforgettable reading experience in a single, curated package. Youll experience the stark honesty of a life lived with courage and curiosity, alongside the luminous energy of a young poet finding his voice. The set offers exceptional value for readers building a personal library, gifting to poetry and memoir lovers, or exploring identity and resilience in a modern context. Its a premium, collectible pair that looks as compelling on a shelf as it reads on the page, making it a standout addition to any home or classroom library.
Please Note: The individual books included in this listing will be dispatched as per the original UK ISBN and UK edition cover image shown in the image.
