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Each poet we record has their own full page in the Archive. Here we can tell you about their writing life, biographies, histories, awards and more...
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Maya Angelou
B. 1928 D. 2014
Maya Angelou was born in St. Louis, Missouri on April 4th 1928, and raised in Arkansas. She is often referred to as the pioneer for African-American Women’s writing in the U.S. and remains an internationally celebrated storyteller. Angelou’s poetry, autobiographical fiction, essays…
Poet
Alfred Austin
B. 1835 D. 1913
Appointed Poet Laureate in 1896, Austin was born in Headingley and was educated at Stonyhurst College, St Mary’s College and at the University of London. His upbringing was Roman Catholic but moved towards agnosticism over time. He trained as a…
Poet
Matthew Arnold
B. 1822 D. 1888
I might have known, / What far too soon, alas! I learn'd / The heart can bind itself alone, / And faith may oft be unreturn'd.' Matthew Arnold, 'Isolation: To Marguerite'
Poet
Pam Ayres
B. 1947
Forget the corny comedian: Pam Ayres is a proper poet, whose wistful, funny, and perceptive verse captures both the joy and unfairness of life. - Sunday Times
Poet
John Agard
B. 1949
His poems are direct and arresting, playful, full of startling imagery, and are hilarious, passionate and erotic as often as they are political - often managing to be all these things at once - Maura Dooley
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Margaret Atwood
B. 1939
With a lyric poem, you look, and meditate, and put the rock back. With fiction you poke things with a stick to see what will happen. - Margaret Atwood
Poet
Moniza Alvi
B. 1954
'here I am, on the edge of animation, / a dream, a dance, a fantastic construction'. Moniza Alvi
Poet
Patience Agbabi
B. 1965
I write because my ink must flow like blood. The written must be spoken. Patience Agbabi