close
 

Billy Collins

Books by Billy Collins

Billy Collins has written books about:

NPR stories about Billy Collins

New In Paperback

Digging Deep: Covert Affairs, Obscure Verses, And Unresolved Emotions

Company We Keep cover detail

March 21, 2012 Poet Billy Collins revels in his love of words, while debut novelist Cara Hoffman brings poetry to a murder mystery. In nonfiction, historian Adam Hochschild takes a fresh look at WWI, former CIA operative Robert Baer tells the story of his marriage to another spy, and Alexandra Styron comes to terms with her famous novelist father, William Styron.

Summary

Poetry

Collins Values Approachable Poetry, Not Pretension

Cover of 'Horoscopes For The Dead'

April 6, 2011 Billy Collins, former U.S. poet laureate, thinks too many poets show off — writing obscure verses that turn many readers off. In his latest collection, Horoscopes For The Dead, Collins strives to write poetry that all readers can appreciate.

Transcript

On Talk of the NationPlaylist

Best Books Of 2010

Best Books Of Winter: Alan Cheuse Makes His List

Illustration: Alan Cheuse as Santa

December 15, 2010 Literary Santa delivers his list of favorite fiction, nonfiction and poetry — a box of the best books from 2010 that he'd like to bring to your house on a snowy morning.

Transcript

On All Things ConsideredPlaylist

Books

Poetry with Billy Collins, Part II

June 7, 2006 In this second of our two-part interview, former U.S. poet laureate Billy Collins guides us through the new spoken-word CD box set Poetry on Record: 98 Poets Read Their Work, 1888-2006. Today's segment features works by Robert Frost, Galway Kinnell, and Collins' own poems. Collins was U.S. poet laureate from 2001 to 2003, and currently serves as the poet laureate of New York State. His most recent book is The Trouble with Poetry and Other Poems.

Summary

On Fresh Air from WHYYPlaylist

Poetry

Billy Collins on 'The Trouble with Poetry'

Billy Collins

November 6, 2005 Poet Billy Collins says the central theme of poetry is death. He manages to ruminate on this in a manner both whimsical and poignant in his latest collection, The Trouble with Poetry: And Other Poems.

Transcript

On All Things ConsideredPlaylist

Driveway Moments

Heard Any Good Books Lately? An Industry Booms

Detail of Cover of 'Dylan Thomas'

January 27, 2005 Audio book sales are increasing at a double-digit rate, making up a healthy chunk of a title's revenue. As Lynn Neary reports, popular books like the Harry Potter series have done well — and expanded consumer awareness of audio books in the process.

Summary

On Morning EditionPlaylist

 

More Books

Podcast + RSS Feeds

Podcast RSS

  • Books
     
 
 

NPR thanks our sponsors

Become an NPR Sponsor