Salena Godden

Salena Godden FRSL is a poet and author whose work has been widely anthologised and broadcast. The Royal Society of Literature elected her as a fellow in November 2020. In 2021 Canongate published Mrs Death Misses Death to high acclaim - it is winner of The Peoples Book Prize 2022 and also shortlisted for the Gordon Burn Prize, The British Book Awards Book Of The Year Fiction: Debut, The Indie Book Awards and the Bad Form Book Of The Year 2021 and Guardian Books of the year 2021. The book has been described by the publisher as “intoxicating and life-affirming” and in The Bookseller as “an original, exuberant novel, freewheeling from prose to poetry to non fiction, truly one of a kind.” Film and TV rights to this unique debut novel have been taken by Idris Elba and Green Door Pictures. Commenting on the deal, Idris Elba said: "Mrs Death Misses Death feels like an instant classic, with an intoxicating story that crosses time and continents. I was immediately drawn to Salena’s writing and am humbled and excited to have the opportunity to bring her brilliant words to life on screen." Godden has had several volumes of poetry published including Under The Pier (Nasty Little Press) Fishing in the Aftermath: Poems 1994-2014 (Burning Eye Books) Pessimism is for Lightweights - 13 Pieces of Courage and Resistance (Rough Trade Books) and also a literary childhood memoir, Springfield Road (Unbound).

Salena Godden: books and anthologies

Indie Book Awards 2022: Fiction Shortlist

British Book Awards Shortlist - Book Of The Year Fiction: Debut

Gordon Burn Prize Shortlist

Bad Form: Books Of The Year 2021

Roaring 20's Radio: Recommendations 2021/2022

Roaring 20's Radio: Recommendations 2020/2021

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