Born in Hampshire, Warton was appointed Poet Laureate in 1785, Warton was also a literary historian and critic and is listed as having produced the first History of English Poetry. He was a highly regarded scholar. Warton died before he…

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…

Edwin Muir was one of the chief Scottish poets of his day writing in English, as well as being known as a literary critic and translator. Born the son of a crofter, Muir was educated in Kirkwall. Following his marriage…

Poet and publisher Bob Cobbing was born in Enfield, England. He became known internationally for pioneering visual, concrete, and sound poetry and for his dynamic and often startling poetry performances; he was known too for his role as publisher, under…

Ann Carson was born in Canada and studied at the University of Toronto.  An academic and scholar, she has taught at several institutions, including McGill and the University of Michigan. She is an expert in ancient Greece, classical and Hellenic…

Nigerian by birth, Soyinka studied in both Nigeria and the UK. His political views have led to periods in exile and a stay in prison with the prospect of a death sentence.  A playwright, novelist, essayist and editor as well…

A graphic artist, painter and wood engraver as well as a poet, Jones’ work is recorded as being influenced by his Christian faith and Welsh roots although he was born in Brockley, South-East London. Jones became a Catholic in 1921….

Joy Harjo is an American poet, musician, playwright, and author. She was the 23rd United States Poet Laureate, the first Native American to hold that honour. She served three terms as the United States’ Poet Laureate Consultant in Poetry and…