Moniza was born in Pakistan and grew up in Hertfordshire. She has published several collections of poetry, including Homesick for the Earth (Bloodaxe 2011), versions of the French poet Jules Supervielle.
Three of her books have been shortlisted for the T.S. Eliot Prize: her first The Country at My Shoulder (OUP 1993), Europa (Bloodaxe 2008) and At the Time of Partition (Bloodaxe 2013). Her most recent collection is Blackbird, Bye Bye (Bloodaxe 2018) and a collection Fairoz is in preparation.
Moniza now lives in Norfolk where she is researching, at UEA, the life and work of Stevie Smith.
Recent critical comments:
‘These poems are about what it is just out of reach, what cannot ever be quite captured but can be imagined with such delicacy that it becomes real.’ Helen Dunmore Observer.
‘She is a skilled storyteller, recounting the extraordinary in the voice of the everyday, so that we accept the miraculous as something we need… the overriding impression is of a deft, restrained language carrying ideas with a metaphysical wit and seriousness.’ Leonie Rushforth, London Magazine.
‘Moniza Alvi’s world is a place of wild energy… Alvi’s voice has achieved a relaxed naturalness, a fluidity which allows her to present these delicious, extraordinary poems as though it were easy.’ Kathleen Jamie and Hugo Williams, PBS Bulletin.
Her website is https://www.moniza.co.uk