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Virgin Mary

Virgin: one little six letter word that holds such incredible power. The power to pressure, to judge, to harm, to praise, to profit, to punish.

But virginity is also just a concept, a label that has been pressed upon people for centuries in numerous cultures worldwide. In this highly anticipated collection of poetry, Hollie McNish unpicks the role this word has played in her own life, as well as others, with her trademark mix of humour, fury and compassion. Whether considering if Mary was a fan of her own nick-name, to rejoicing her annual excitement in ice cream vans, to looking back on how ridiculously she ate creamy mashed potato with her family after apparently ‘losing’ her own virginity, she examines in her own inimitable way the tracks this concept makes throughout so many minds, and the possibilities of freedom.

At times hilarious, at times harrowing, always hopeful – a poetic love letter against the more nefarious effects of purity culture packed with stacks of honeycomb, hand holds and early morning light.

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Publishing October 2025