Poems that Make Grown Women Cry, Hampstead and Highgate Literary Festival

Stereotypes say boys don’t cry and men should maintain a stiff upper lip. In defiance of these gender limitations, the 2014 anthology Poems that Make Grown Men Cry had aimed to celebrate the emotive power of poetry. 100 eminent men, including Stephen Fry, Daniel Radcliffe and Richard Dawkins, had selected the poem that most touched them and described why it made them misty eyed.

Same concept, but different focus, the event "Poems that Make Grown Women Cry" starts by challenging the assumption that women should be at all more dewy-eyed and frail than their male counterparts through its very name, before playfully inviting the spectator to sharing some of the fair sex's most treasured poems.

Hosted by Kate Moss and Edna O'Brien among others, this edition mirrors the last one by featuring the poetry choices of 100 eminent women. Expect to hear Yoko Ono's favourite verses being read along with Judi Dench, Germaine Greer and Carol Ann Duffy's. Foreign personalities such as Nigerian feminist Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie or beloved Elena Ferrante will also get to have a much anticipated say.

The collection explores the full emotional spectrum – despair, joy, love, and loss. Contributors range from early 20s to late 80s, represent 20 different nationalities and a multitude of backgrounds including literature and film, science and architecture, theatre and human rights. As in last year, this broad selection promises to delight us with eclectic and surprising choices, peppering classic poetry with edgy, contemporary verses.