The Anatomy of Melancholy: A New Poetry Collection by Sophie Marx

On September 11, 2025, the debut poetry collection by Sophie Marx, The Anatomy of Melancholy, was published by London-based Olympia Publishing. Find out more and read an excerpt here...

Advertisement

In The Anatomy of Melancholy, Sophie Marx takes readers on an intimate journey through love, loss, faith, identity, and the raw complexities of the human experience. With striking honesty and lyrical depth, her poetry explores the intersections of womanhood, spirituality, and self-discovery, inviting readers to confront both personal and collective struggles. From quiet moments of introspection to bold declarations of defiance, this collection weaves themes of resilience, rebellion, and redemption. Each poem is a window into the poet’s soul, capturing the beauty and pain of existence with unfiltered emotion. The Anatomy of Melancholy is a powerful, thought-provoking debut that lingers in the mind long after the last page is turned.

Find out more and order your copy here.

Sophie tells us of her ties to Galway, saying; "My journey with Galway began in 2022, when I moved here for university. It was here that I first performed my poetry — initially at the Little Island Open Mic in Monroe’s, and later at Massimo’s when the event changed venues. These open mic nights were a turning point for me. The encouragement and creative energy I found in Galway’s arts scene gave me the confidence to share my work more widely, ultimately leading to the publication of this collection."

Read an excerpt from 'Optimistic Nihilism' below and order your copy via Waterstones HERE.

The scent of ceasing summer days
Opened my eyes to the miracle
Of what it means to be alive;
How is it that we wake up each day
Continuing to live our lives
With no meaning in sight?
Blind to the obscurity of normality
Placing our fate in destiny
To guide us through the ordinary
Shielding us from ourselves,
Our choices and mistakes
Simply by declaring
That all will be right in the end.
Is contempt then a fiend
Or the only key to the very happiness
I would like to achieve?
Is not believing in a meaning
Yet not wanting a way out
Choosing to continue on the path
Of uncertainty, no desire for clarity
Only temporary happiness,
Existentialism
Or is it optimistic nihilism?