Carol Ann Duffy was appointed Poet Laureate of the United Kingdom in May 2009. In the first five years of her laureateship, she has written brilliant, challenging, lyrical and relevant poetry about people, places and significant moments, past and present. From Chaucer to Shakespeare, from Valentine"s Day to Christmas Eve, from the industrial cities to the White Cliffs of Dover, this selection of her public poems celebrates our nation and its rituals. Beautifully illuminated by Stephen Raw - a wonderful textual artist who recreates words, lines and poems in the most elegant and sumptuous form - Ritual Lighting marks the half-way point of Carol Ann Duffy"s Laureateship in gorgeous style, and is a stunning gift book from Britain"s most popular poet.