Leslie Hanna was born on 28 June 1953 in Bangor, County Down, Northern Ireland. He attended Bangor Grammar School and subsequently Belfast College of Art for one year. He became mentally unwell when age nineteen. He was diagnosed as having schizophrenia and since his teens has had a number of extended admissions to psychiatric in-patient care. In total he has spent ten years as an in-patient. He now lives independently outside Bangor, County Down.

Leslie developed an interest in poetry while a student. However it was not until 1997 that he began to express himself through his own writing. He finds this therapeutic and believes this has helped him see his life in a positive way. His writing has enabled him to bring back his sense of values and he states: "I have re-discovered a sense of my old self".

'The Poetry Modern' is Leslie H Hanna's second published poetry collection, the first, 'Days of Hanna' is also available through chipmunkapublishing.