Explore Poets
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…
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John Ashbery
B. 1927 D. 2017
For me, poetry is very much the time that it takes to unroll, the way music does...it's not a static, contemplatable thing like a painting or a piece of sculpture. - John Ashbery
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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
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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…
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Patience Agbabi
B. 1965
I write because my ink must flow like blood. The written must be spoken. Patience Agbabi
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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
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Fergus Allen
B. 1921 D. 2017
Allen writes poetry that is limpid, very subtle and marvellously wise. - William Boyd
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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'